November 4, 1936 – June 20, 2026
With his wife of 66 years at his side, Richard Gan Young (“Dick”) died peacefully at home in Fairfax, Virginia, on June 20, 2026, ending a full, happy, and meaningful life.
A true polymath, Dick built a successful career in intellectual property law, becoming a partner at the Washington, DC firm, Beveridge, DeGrandi, Weilacher, and Young. All the while, Dick continued to develop his longstanding passions for history, the natural world, the arts, and travel. His wide circle of family and friends knew that they could come to him with any type of problem, be it mechanical, logistical, professional, or personal, and he would think up creative, practical solutions. He once built a sailboat from scratch. He edited and published his great-grandfather’s Gold Rush journals and Civil War diary—and after extensive research, made his way around Cape Horn while retracing the same ancestor’s voyage to the California Gold Rush. In retirement, he was a pro bono mediator at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and taught classes on his diverse interests at George Mason University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). His greatest interest, however, was his family.
Dick Young was born on November 4, 1936, to Elmo and Maxine Young in Hutchinson, Kansas, the eldest of three children. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, on an NROTC scholarship, graduating in 1958 with a degree in management and mechanical engineering. It was in Troy that he met Lillian Hann (“Willie”) and began the greatest adventure of his life. Dick and Willie married in 1959, while he was on leave from his stint in the Navy, and soon after, they settled in Northern Virginia. With three children under age five, Dick earned a law degree from Georgetown University by taking night classes while working at a patent and trademark firm during the day. He graduated from law school in 1965, and throughout his career, he would always carve out time to attend his four children’s soccer games and swim meets. His family’s commitment to the latter sport led to Dick’s decades of service with the Northern Virginia Swim League. After seven years as a team rep at Brandywine Swim Club, he was NVSL president from 1979-80 and rules chairman for the following 25 years.
Dick and his wife Willie made a formidable team. They were always the first to volunteer for leadership roles in community organizations and events and always the last to leave a good party. Holidays inevitably brought family and friends from across the country to the Young’s house. And every good thing was likely to become a tradition. Hence, getaways with distant friends were scheduled annually. Every Thanksgiving dinner was followed by a Friday crab feast. Every January saw a multi-family ski trip to Seven Springs. And every summer meant a long sojourn in Northfield, Massachusetts.
It was in Northfield that Dick took on the role of trail guide, life coach, and science educator to his six beloved grandchildren and anyone else who cared to join in on his famous woodland hikes. During this time, Dick’s deep sense of respect for nature and love for community was imprinted upon his grandchildren. Yet, in Northfield and on other adventures in far-flung locations, it also became clear that Dick was every bit as interested in seeing the world through his grandchildren’s eyes as others were in seeing it through his.
Dick is survived by his wife, Lillian (“Willie”); his sister, Sharon Young and his sister-in-law, Janet Young; his children, Susie Mangano (husband Jim), David Young, Bill Young (wife Katie) and Dan Young (wife Amy Sayer); his grandchildren, Dan Mangano (wife Stacey Harrington), Melissa Mangano, Eric Young (wife Alex Scheeler), Abby Young, Lucy Young, and Owen Young; and his great-grandchildren, Oscar Young, Rose Young, and Ryan Mangano.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmo and Maxine Young, and his brother, James Young.
A memorial service will take place in Northfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at the Trinitarian Congregational Church, 147 Main St. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Dick’s memory to the NVSL, 1909 Bridle Lane, Alexandria, VA 22308-2209, or the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Mason, 4210 Roberts Road, Fairfax, VA 22032 (olli.gmu.edu).
Memorials may be made to Online condolences at www.directcremationservicesofvirginia.com.
Funeral arrangements were trusted to Direct Cremation Services of Virginia – Chantilly, 4425 Brookfield Corp. Dr. Suite 100 Chantilly, VA 20151, (703) 584-4927.