Evans Young

A native New Yorker, Evans grew up in Brooklyn and Queens and graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School. He was an English major at Cornell University, received his M.A. in Chinese studies from the University of Washington, and his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Michigan.

Throughout his life, Evans worked to understand the world and to address the inequality and injustice that stymie our efforts to fully appreciate one another and thwart our attempts to create truly inclusive communities. Evans found many ways to work toward a better world including building cross-national connections among people and community organizations throughout southeast Asia under the auspices of the American Friends Service Committee, working with students and faculty at the University of Michigan Center for Afro-American and African Studies, and helping to strengthen and deepen undergraduate education in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at Michigan.

The first in his family to be born in the United States, Evans was preceded in death by his parents, Hugh Y. Young and Tsao Kwei-Sao Young, and his brothers Frank, John, and Joseph. He is survived by his brother Will, his sister Frances, and a wonderful group of nieces and nephews.

Evans had limitless love for his family and they returned that love in equal measure. He is survived by his wife Catherine Shaw, son Robert and his wife Alisha, daughter Joslyn and her husband Brian, four grandchildren, Emily, Nathan, Anne, and Elizabeth, whom he treasured, and caring in-laws in Catherine’s family.

While Evans loved to garden, for those who wish to honor Evans’ life, the family respectfully requests no flowers and suggests contributions to: the Evans Young Fund to support student activities at the University of Michigan Department of Afro-American and African Studies (https://lsa.umich.edu/daas : choose the DAAS Strategic Fund, designate a “tribute gift” and enter Evans Young when prompted for a name) or the Michigan Criminal Justice Program of the American Friends Service Committee (https://www.afsc.org/office/ypsilanti-mi).

There will be a gathering to remember Evans when circumstances in the world once again allow for these important human connections.