The year 2020, which seems to have no end of shocks for us, has delivered yet one more with the death on October 28 of our friend and colleague, Douglas Young, Ph.D. Doug, a Professor Emeritus of Economics at Montana State University (MSU), was the current President of the Advisory Council of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at MSU (formerly MSU Wonderlust) and a previous member and officer of the Board of Directors of Wonderlust and The Friends of Wonderlust. These titles in themselves show what a loss this is for OLLI at MSU, but it is not for his titles that we cherish his memory.

His energy, effort and enthusiasm were instrumental in moving Wonderlust from a small group of curious (in all meanings of the word) friends to the MSU organization with 500 plus members that recently succeeded in securing funding from the Bernard Osher Foundation.

Doug exemplified the ideal of senior living which OLLI at MSU aims to promote.  He led a life of the mind, the body and the spirit. As one of Wonderlust’s first and recurring instructors, he shared his knowledge and clarity of thought in helping hundreds of us understand the baffling intricacies of economics and infected us with his love of numbers, tables and graphs along the way. 

He was a citizen of the world who spent many years living and teaching in foreign countries and who welcomed many students and visitors from abroad into his home. He was an avid reader and his e-mail signature line always included the books that he was currently reading. He relished nature with a spectrum of activities from swimming in the cold waters of Puget Sound to skiing and hiking in the high sunny peaks of Montana. 

Although his expertise was in economics, which Carlyle named “The Dismal Science,” Doug’s outlook was always one of optimism. He could see progress where others saw only stagnation or worse. And he had a sense of humor for all. For example, he often introduced his contemporaries, an unrelated friend with whom he shared a surname, as his father. His loud, hearty laugh will remain a vivid and beloved lasting memory. As we mourn him and remember him, his spirit endures, laughing with us and at us along our way.

Laura and family, our hearts and condolences go out to you all.

Rest in peace Doug.

Doug Young Memorial homepage