Patrick Shepard Young

Patrick Shepard Young, beloved son of Patricia White Copeland of Greensboro and Charles Jeffrey Young of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, died of a pulmonary embolism at his home in Hollywood, California, following a brief illness. He was 49 years old.

Patrick was born in Lexington, North Carolina and attended school there and Westchester Academy in High Point. During his middle school years, he moved to Greensboro where he attended Greensboro Day School and later transferred to Woodberry Forest School, graduating in 1994.

He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for one and one-half years. Mid-year of his sophomore year, he announced that he planned to transfer to the University of Southern California, as it had long been his dream to enroll in the renowned Steven Spielberg Film School. No amount of dissuading him from this move was successful. He left UNC-CH as a Dean’s List student and requested that his mother put him on a train at 3:00 am in Greensboro bound for Los Angeles. His car packed with all of his belongings would follow him on the cross-country journey as well.

He made this dream a reality, pledging the Kappa Sigma fraternity and graduating summa cum laude from the University of Southern California with a double major in Film and American Literature. He remained in Hollywood, California for 30 years concentrating on historical research, films of the 70s and all things related to history, film and literature. These passions never changed, and he kept in very close touch with multiple USC friends.

Patrick was the epitome of one who marched to the beat of his own drum. From his early childhood, it was apparent that his overactive brain was constantly engaged. As a very small child, he could memorize and recite entire albums of lyrics word for word. His adventurous spirit led him from bungee jumping in Australia to traveling all over the United States and beyond. He was fiercely independent (aka hard-headed and stubborn) and determined to live his life on his own terms. He had a quick sense of humor and wit and could easily engage in conversation with friends and family or even complete strangers, especially if the topic had anything to do with travel, history, literature or film.

His favorite mode of transportation was by train. This quirky, unique soul, if time would allow, would much prefer to travel by train than car or plane, be it within the state or completely cross country.

He was a strong Christian and a member of First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood where he attended every Sunday possible, typically walking from his Hollywood condo. His faith mattered a great deal to him.

He loved his family deeply and was proud to be a Tarheel, even though he could not be persuaded to return “home.” He was especially devoted to his nephew and niece, Charlie and Caroline Combs. He exhibited a “Pied Piper” personality when with them, joyfully entertaining and playing with them for hours on end. Their adoration of him was overwhelming, and the relationship was filled with love, joy and mutual devotion. For the past five years, since Caroline’s birth, he was able to go on numerous family trips with them, making lasting memories and creating adventures with them.

One of his proudest moments was being named godfather to Peter, son of USC friend, Adam Harris. He was devoted to both father and son and enjoyed many excursions with them, exposing Peter to film history in Los Angeles as well as sharing in Peter’s love of lacrosse and football.

Patrick is survived by his mother, Patricia White Copeland; father Charles Jeffrey Young (Lynn); sister Anne Young Combs (Richard); stepbrothers Jefferson Brame Shaw (Jessalyn) and Christopher Dalton Shaw (Lila). He is also survived by six nieces and nephews and many beloved aunts, uncles and cousins.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro on Tuesday, April 29th at 11:00 am followed by a reception in the church’s Mullin Life Center. A family inurnment will be held at a later date at Oakwood Historical Cemetery in Raleigh, North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Gary Sinise Foundation (garysinisefoundation.org), First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood (fpch.org), or to the charity of your choice.

Fond memories may be shared at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com