GEORGE C.K. YOUNG
/ COMMUNITY LEADER
George C.K. Young, known best for restoring the Manoa Chinese Cemetery, died Wednesday at the Queen's Medical Center of a lung disease. He was 76. Visionary guided rebirth
More obituaries
of isle Chinese cemeteryBy Pat Gee
pgee@starbulletin.comThe former state labor law inspector received several awards for outstanding achievements from the Chinese community, but "the cemetery was his baby," said brother James C.M. Young.
George was president of the Lin Yee Chung Association, which oversees the cemetery, for the past 13 years and one of its trustees, he said.
James, a retired architect who helped with the restoration, said his brother will be the first to be buried in the lower section next to a newly erected line of 12 white marble animals of the Chinese zodiac. Erecting the statues along the roadway was the latest of his projects to improve the historic cemetery.
"They were erected one week before he died, so he didn't get to see it," but after he is buried Saturday he will get to look at them all the time, James said.
The brothers were charged with doing charity work for the cemetery by their father, Nee Nam Young, a doctor and herbalist.
Filial piety, or respect for one's ancestors, was a philosophy George lived and passed onto his children and other young people, according to James. George often labored into the evening to keep the cemetery tidy even though there was a groundskeeper, and he personally planted the red ti leaves there, James said.
Wesley K.K. Young, his son, said he will always remember his father as "a visionary, who would paint a picture so we could achieve our best or even higher." He would always encourage his children to take it to the next level, and he was a good father who had a great sense of humor and gave his sons a lot of attention, Wesley said.
Young, a 1944 graduate of St. Louis School, was named Model Chinese Father of the Year in 2000 and Outstanding Senior Volunteer in 2001. In 1996 he was Outstanding Chinese Citizen of the Year and held several other honorary titles. Young held chairman positions in six Chinese societies and conducted many lectures on culture and traditions.
On a professional level, he was an inspector for the state Department of Labor for some 30 years, retiring in 1983. In 1999, he was appointed as a city Civil Service commissioner, and state Civil Service commissioner on repricing, holding these positions until his death.
Young also taught accounting at Kaimuki Adult Education the past 40 years and was a sergeant in the U.S. Army.
He is also survived by his wife, Jeanette; sons Clayton K.W. and Curtis K.C.; and seven grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Community Church of Honolulu, 2345 Nuuanu Ave. Services will be at 11 a.m., and burial at the Manoa cemetery will follow. Aloha attire is requested. Diamond Head Mortuary is handling the arrangements.