Alexander Young

Alexander K. Young

New Paltz - Alexander K. Young, 86, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, May 6, 2015, in New Paltz, NY.

Born on December 12, 1928, in Tainan, Taiwan, he was the son of Su-Yong Yang and Kim Huang Yang. He was a visiting student in the United States in the late 1940's and returned to Taiwan to receive a graduate degree from the College of Law, National Taiwan University in 1950. He married Setsuko Inoue on June 2, 1956, in Princeton, NJ. In 1969, he received a PhD in International Relations from Columbia University and was instructor of International Relations and Faculty Associate on Modern Japan at Columbia. Dr. Young was Professor of International Relations at the State University of New York at New Paltz, NY until he retired in 1999. He authored several books and articles about trade relations between the US, Japan and Taiwan and received a high ranking medal of honor from the Government of Japan for his work on trade relations. In 1982, his book, "The Sogo Shosha: Japan's Multinational Trading Companies" was a catalyst in federal legislation, "The U.S. Export Trading Companies Act of 1982", signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. In addition to being a Strategic & International Studies Fellow at the Taiwan Research Institute, he was consulted upon and appointed National Policy Advisor to then President Lee of Taiwan and co-chaired with Congressman Benjamin Gilman, former House of Representatives, a conference on "U.S. Asian Policy in the Second Bush Administration" in New York on May 21, 2005.

Alexander Young was also an active community member, helping with commerce in Ulster and Dutchess Counties.

In addition to his wife, Setsuko Young, he is survived by one daughter, Sophia (& Joe), two sons, Alexander T. and Eric, and two grandsons, Patrick and Eric.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, May 10, 2015 at 2:30 pm at Trinity Covenant Church, 343 East Cedar Street, Livingston, NJ 07039, with the Rev.Dr. Hsiao, Ching-Fen, officiating. The family requests memorial donations be sent to the Formosan Association of Public Affairs, 552 7th St. SE, Washington, DC, 20003 or the Taiwanese Presbyterian Church of Northern Jersey 343, East Cedar St., Livingston, NJ 07039.

Arrangements are under the direction of Copeland Funeral Home, Inc., 162 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, NY 12561. Condolences may be made to the family at www.copelandfhnp.com