Kenneth Linn Young

Ken Young, a retired district representative with the Toronto Star and lifetime resident of East York, passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness on June 7th, 2022. An alumnus of the first graduating class of Centennial College, he majored in journalism but found his career in the Toronto Star’s circulation department, mentoring young carriers and providing customer service to subscribers for over 25 years. As a young man, he purchased the house across the street from his childhood home. The former residence of long-time East York mayor True Davidson, Ken was to live there for nearly 50 years. He became a self-taught home renovator and spent many hours updating, improving, and maintaining this designated historic home.

In his spare time, Ken could often be found in the snooker club or on the golf course. A natural athlete, he loved to socialize with friends over a game while honing his technique. He also loved to travel, visiting Paris, Morocco, Thailand, China, Columbia, and many parts of Canada and the USA. Although he never quite picked up foreign languages, his outgoing personality and knack for conversation meant that he always landed on his feet wherever he found himself, whether bargaining for carpets in Marrakesh or ordering steak tartare on the Left Bank. He brought the same enthusiasm to raising five dogs over the years – a Bearded Collie and four Bouvier de Flandres. He grumbled about walking them when it rained but loved each of them wholeheartedly. To his family and friends, he was known for his generosity, his willingness to pitch in with a project, and his devotion to those he cared about and cared for.

Ken is survived by both parents, George (Lam) and Mary Young, sisters April Bond (Mike) and Susan Young (Paul Wubbolts), partner Nancy Johnson, and many dear friends. Brothers Morris and Jerry Young predeceased him. Visitation will be held in the chapel at Giffen-Mack Funeral Home at 2570 Danforth Avenue at main street subway station, on Saturday, June 18th, 2022 from 1pm to 3pm.