Obituary of James Edward Young

JAMES JIM? EDWARD YOUNG August 7, 1925 October 24, 2012 Jim passed away peacefully in Regina on Wednesday, October 24, 2012. He was predeceased by his parents Arthur Cy? and Sylvia Young. Jim was born and raised in Regina and attended Thompson and Victoria Elementary Schools and graduated from Central Collegiate. He trained in the Air Force as a navigator and was training in the Army Tank Corps when the war ended in 1945. Jim received his Bachelor of Education from the University of Saskatchewan and later his B.A. from the University of British Columbia. He married Georgina Underwood in 1950 and lived in Leroy, Davidson and Regina. Jims three passions in life were singing, Shakespeare and history. After receiving a scholarship for voice, he sang lead roles in operas including the Marriage of Figaro, and the Barber of Seville. He also sang with the Regina Lyric Light Opera and especially enjoyed Gilbert and Sullivan. Jim played a number of different roles over the years in the Trial of Louis Riel. Jim was a founding member of the Elizabethan Singers, singing with them for over 25 years. He also found time to sing with Mennonite choirs from Muenster and Winnipeg, with whom he travelled to Europe. Jim sang with the choirs of Knox Metropolitan United Church, Holy Rosary Cathedral and St. Pauls Anglican Cathedral, touring with the latter to sing in a number of English cathedrals. Jim was also a member of the Regina Philharmonic Chorus for many years as well as their forerunner, the Conservatory Choir. He was a supporter of the initiative establishing the Globe Theatre and also spent many hours acting, building sets and operating lights for Regina Little Theatre. Jim won the Ohio State University award for the Outstanding Educational History Series for Television which led him to an offer from CBC Toronto, but he remained devoted to the community of Regina where he served as a teacher and principal with the Regina Public Schools system at Thompson, Peart, Arcola, Douglas Park, Rosemont, Regent Park, R.J. Davidson, retiring from Dover School in 1985 after 35 years of service. Following retirement, Jim worked with the Saskatchewan Choral Federation and sang with their summer program Sask Sings? for many years. Jim is survived by his loving partner of 21 years, Ruth Scott; and will be sorely missed by his sons James Arthur (Otis) Young of Regina, Thomas Edward Young of Victoria, John Andrew Young of Ottawa, Richard Michael Young of Regina; his daughter Deborah (Kirk) Rockerbie; their mother Georgina Young of Victoria; granddaughter Genevieve (Genny) Marie Belyea of Waterloo; and Gennys mother Karen Belyea. Grandpa Jim will be greatly missed by Ruths family, Tannis and Gordon Patterson, Bridget, Bill and great grandson Patrick, Kristie and Dave, Kendall (Rob), Jamie, Deanna (Mike), Jaye and Coreen Scott, Graeme, Joel, Melanie and Tyler. Saturday afternoons wont be the same for Fred, fiercely protective and loyal canine, who spent countless hours with Jim enjoying broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera. Jim will be fondly remembered by the many students and fellow performers whose lives he touched in so many ways. Funeral Service will be held at St. Pauls Anglican Cathedral, 1861 McIntyre Street, Regina, SK on Thursday, November 1, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. with inurnment in St. Pauls Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, donations in memoriam, may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan, 279 3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 2H8 or St. Pauls Building in Faith, 1861 McIntyre Street, Regina, SK, S4P 2R2. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com When you are sorrowful look again in your heart and you shall see, in truth, that for which you are weeping has been your delight.? Kahlil Gibran