Sue K. Young
By Robert Salonga
Daily Bruin Staff
Sue K. Young, wife of former Chancellor Charles E. Young, died of breast cancer at her home Friday. She was 69.
Young served as first lady of UCLA during her husband's 29-year tenure, from 1969 to 1997.
In 1987, she was appointed Associate of the Chancellor, an official University of California position inspired by her efforts to achieve full recognition of the spousal role in academic leadership.
"The entire UCLA family is saddened by the loss," said current Chancellor Albert Carnesale.
"This is someone who devoted 29 years of her life to make the university a better place and to make all American universities better places," he added.
Since Fall 1999, she served as first lady of the University of Florida, Gainesville, where her husband is now president.
"While Sue Young was with us, the university benefited from her grace, kindness, charm and personal interest in our faculty and students," said University of Florida Provost David Colburn.
During her time at UCLA, Young presented numerous campus events, displaying a perfectionism that left a lasting effect on those who knew her.
"She was always a stickler for details," said John Sandbrook, who served as Charles' assistant for close to two decades and is the current assistant vice provost of the College of Letters & Science.
"The words bravery, dedication and perfectionist all come to mind," said Sandbrook, who visited Young on Tuesday at her Thousand Oaks home.
"There was no one who loved UCLA more than she did."
Carol Afshar, who served as Young's assistant while she and her husband lived at the Chancellor's Residence, said Young went to great measures to entertain guests at their home.
"She was an expert at designing events and making everyone feel welcome," Afshar said.
Young was born in Colton, Calif., on Jan. 4, 1932. She met Charles while they were both students at San Bernardino Valley College. They married in 1950, and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year.
She began her UCLA tenure in 1960, when Charles joined the administration of then-Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy, whom he succeeded as chancellor.
During the 1980s, Young brought national attention to the role of a spouse of a university chancellor or president. This led to her appointment as the UC's first associate of the chancellor.
At UCLA, she was an ex-officio board member of the Faculty Women's Club and a member of the boards of Women and Philanthropy at UCLA and the Iris Cantor for Breast Imaging.
Young had been battling breast cancer for many years. According to Sandbrook, she nearly died in 1997 during the week Charles retired as chancellor.
"I'm happy that Chuck was able to enjoy four years of his retirement after UCLA with her," he said.
She returned to school in her 40s, after taking time off to raise a family, and graduated magna cum laude in 1977 with a degree in political science.
Young was past chairman of the Partners Committee of the Association of American Universities and former chair of the Council of President's/Chancellor's Spouses of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges.
The UCLA Alumni Association presented her with a Special University Service Award in 1985. She was honored again by the association in 1988 with a Distinguished Achievement Award, given to the Youngs in recognition of their 20th anniversary at UCLA.
Young served three years on the Los Angeles City Civil Service Commission from 1974 to 1977.
She also wrote the "New Comprehensive American Rhyming Dictionary" and the "Scholastic Rhyming Dictionary for Children."
She is survived by her husband and two children, Charles Young, Jr. and Elizabeth Young-Apstein, and seven grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in memory of Sue be made to the Sue K. Young Scholarship Fund. Donations should be sent to the UCLA Foundation, c/o Rhea Turteltaub, 10920 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1400, Los Angeles, CA, 90024.