Dave Young

Young, Dave Encinitas Historian and Businessman ENCINITAS -- Born February 18, 1927, Dave Young, an avid historian of the San Dieguito area, died June 14, 2013, not far from his long-time Crest Drive home in Encinitas. With determined integrity and commitment to revealing the truth, Dave uncovered local history through artifacts and the stories surrounding them. After a Pacific tour of duty in the U.S. Navy during WWII, Dave joined the U.S. Forest Service as a ranger and firefighter. He loved nature, the mountains, and especially the quiet serenity of the back country. He shared his experiences with family and friends in many excursions to backcountry areas few ever see. From land to sea, Dave was an avid sailor, in a weathered cowboy hat, making excursions from his mooring in Oceanside. Later, combined with his love for history, his wife Bertha and he devoted many hours to the renovation of the Star of India. From the burgeoning electronics industry to wholesale building supplies, Dave resourcefully pursued business to finally retire with a pool service. There, he provided early work experience to local surfers and students, including his daughter Candace. Since its 1998 inception, Dave and Bertha have been founding members or the San Dieguito Heritage Museum. Enabled by the trust built with longstanding friendships, Dave connected pioneer families' artifacts and stories with the museum. As the museum grew and migrated between locations, he housed the collections, returning sacred Indian artifacts to the rightful heirs as far away as Montana. Some of the larger, significant pieces of the earliest pioneers still reside at Dave and Bertha's home, waiting for the opportunity for others to view and piece together their stories. Never to sit still, Dave built a frontier town filled with period memorabilia around these pieces. One can wander from saloon to country store, schoolhouse, foundry, barn and outhouse. Dave was a loving husband and father. In addition to his wife Bertha, and sister Barbara, Mr. Young is survived by his daughter, Candace and husband Bob Clarke of Escondido; his son, Greg and wife Ginny Young of San Marcos; and his granddaughter, Ramsey Young. A memorial BBQ will be held at his home on Sunday, June 30, 2013 at noon. For more information, please call (760) 525-1121. In lieu of flowers, the family requests in honor of his memory to visit the San Dieguito Heritage museum and make a donation.