DONALD A. YOUNG
C.M., Ph.D., LL.D.
Donald Alcoe Young, Fredericton, NB, died on December seventh, 2015, at the Oromocto Public Hospital at 86 years of age. He was the son of Louis Church Young and Mary (Alcoe) Young and the husband of Donna Kathryn (Signer) Young. He is survived by his wife and their three children: Kirsten Emily (Sherman) Yee, Burnaby, BC; Margot Diane Young, Halifax, NS; and Scott Camron (Jane Robinson) Young, Fredericton, as well as three grandchildren: Emily Mary and Olivia Jane Young Cantwell, and Parker Camron Young. One sister, Margaret Waldon, lives in Kamloops, BC.
Donald cared deeply for his family, had a lifetime commitment to Plant Science, a passion for boating and sailing, and everything related to wood. His workshop, his garden and the property along the Saint John River were treasured locations.
Born and raised on the Experimental Farm in Fredericton, Donald gained an early appreciation of everything related to Agriculture. His University career began at Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, NS. He completed a Bachelor of Science at Macdonald College, McGill University, followed by a Ph.D. in Genetics and Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin. In 1957, he accepted a position as a Research Scientist with the Agriculture Canada Research Station in Fredericton and began his journey with the potato. During his 46 year professional career he worked in 29 countries around the world. Examples include a five year term as Technical Director of a CIDA sponsored project in Keshan, China and an assignment as Potato Section Leader in a CIDA sponsored Bangladesh Crop Diversification Project.
Donald’s first love was potato variety development. He established teams to breed varieties for niche markets (early maturing, chipping, and French frying varieties as well as several for offshore markets and starch production). His personal research focussed on data handling systems, potato quality selection methods, and yield prediction. The first computer-based information retrieval system, anywhere, was developed in 1968.
A team, established to develop a potato variety specifically for French frying, released Shepody in 1980. It gained wide acceptance, won several national awards and is still grown around the world. In his 20 years as Project Leader more than a dozen new potato varieties were released including Yukon Gold, Caribe and Raritan.
Within the potato research community Dr. Young was recognized as an innovator. He understood the complexity of potato research, growing technologies and the need for multidisciplinary work groups. He chaired the Atlantic Potato Committee and edited the first three editions of the Atlantic Canada Potato Production Guide.
Don retired from Agriculture Canada in 1986 and became a part-time consultant to McCain Foods. He helped to establish research projects and evaluated potential sites for new processing plants.
For the Young family, there was also play, often centred around boats. The first was a small cabin cruiser built by Donna and Don in 1958. Their last nights on board, together and alone, were spent behind Pine Island in Washademoak Lake this fall. Their favourite sailing locations were always the Saint John River System and Penobscot Bay, Maine. In 1963, Donald, with the late Stanley Spicer, established the Fredericton Power and Sail Squadron.
Donald was Life-President of Nova Scotia Agriculture College Class of ’50 and carried a leadership role of the Class and with the Institution for 65 years. He was a member of the Fredericton Botanic Garden Association, The Nature Trust of New Brunswick, and a Friend of the Unitarian Fellowship of Fredericton.
During his career he held numerous positions within the Potato Association of America, including a term as President. That Association presented him an Honorary Life Membership in 1991. He was granted a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from Dalhousie University in 1993, and became a Member of The Order of Canada for his lifetime contribution to Plant Science in 2010.
The family expresses gratitude to Dr. Kathleen Woods, Oromocto, Dr. Paul Sohi, Saint John Regional Hospital and to Medical Directors and staff of the Palliative Care Units at both locations for gentle care of Donald.
Friends, colleagues and neighbours are invited to a Gathering to commemorate Donald’s life at Kingswood Lodge on Thursday, December 17 from 3 to 6 pm. The family suggests contributions in Donald's memory be made to any Hospice Facility or other charity of your choice. A private interment of ashes, in a container made by the deceased, will take place in the family plot at Maplewood Cemetery near Petitcodiac.