John R. "Rip" Young

Dover, Mass. - John Rippey "Rip" Young, 76, died suddenly at home on April 1, 2010.

Rip was born in Stamford, on Aug. 18, 1933, to Lloyd V. and Dorothy (Irving) Young. He spent his childhood in Connecticut and attended The Taft School in Watertown. Upon graduation, he attended Middlebury College in Middlebury,Vt. There he was a member of Chi Psi fraternity and graduated with a degree in sociology. He then attended The Ohio State University receiving a certificate from the National Mortgage School & The American Bankers Association. He then began a career in 1957 with National Shawmut Bank in Boston as an assistant to the vice president in the real estate mortgage division. Rip used his 10 years of experience with Shawmut to secure three prominent titles with the ITT Sheraton Corporation in 1967; senior vice president and treasurer of ITT Sheraton Corporation and executive vice president of the ITT Sheraton Realty Corporation. He held those positions until his retirement in 1988. From there Rip used his expertise in all areas of real estate as an independent consultant serving the hotel industry as well as senior vice president of real estate development for Horizon Hotels, Ltd. Throughout his career he held many director and trusteeship positions with various banks, funds, and investment companies. He was also a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), The American Hotel & Motel Association (AH&MA), and former treasurer and founding member of Citizens Housing & Planning Association of Greater Boston.

As hard as Rip worked, he also knew how to kick back and enjoy good times with family and friends. He summered most of his life in Groton Long Point where he made many lifelong memories and friends. He took advantage of all GLP had to offer. He sailed and raced the Antique Class "A" boats with his great friend, Frank "Old Dog" Murphy and many others. He will be remembered by many for riding around on his old red vintage Schwinn bike and the fun antics he and Frank would pull during the old "Venitian Nights" on the lagoon. In his later years, he summered at Lake St. Catherine in Wells,Vt., relaxing by the lake, driving his antique ski boat, reading a good book, playing a round of golf, and gathering with friends and family.

Rip was the "decent of decent men" and treated everyone he came in contact with as an equal whether they were a high powered excecutive or an attendant at the local gas station. He had a great sense of humor, was a great story teller, and one of those unique people who always made you feel good.

He will be sadly missed by his wife, Lois (Ronk) of Dover, Mass.; his children, Mark F. Young of Mendham, N.J., Cynthia Y. Low of Mystic, Pamela Y. Low and of Longmeadow, Mass., Remsen M. Kinne of Peidmont, Calif., and Corbin K. Kinne of Longmeadow, Mass. He will also be missed by his eight grandchildren, Matthew Young, Jennifer, James, and Taylor Low, Tucker, Max, Aden, and Katherine Kinne; his brother, Peter V. Young and family of Norwalk; and many cousins and friends.

Services and interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Rip's name to The Taft School, 110 Woodbury Road, Watertown CT 06795.