Charles A. Young III, 82
For 82 years, Chuck Young shared his special brand of humor with friends, family, coworkers and acquaintances. It was mostly well-received.
Chuck reveled in the kinds of jokes that begin earnestly and then pull the rug out from under you, to his delight and amusement — whether you opened your mailbox to find a six-point critique of your family’s Christmas card, an official-sounding reprimand from a local board of directors, or his facetious “Year in Review” holiday letter. When he met with his oncologist at Dana-Farber at age 80, the doctor outlined how follow-up scans would be performed after one year, five years, and 10 years. “What about 20 years?” Chuck inquired. As the doctor tried to come up with a serious answer, a smile slowly broke over Chuck’s face.
Chuck loved fly fishing along the Swift River and at the Quabbin Reservoir, alone or with friends, and he always enjoyed catching glimpses of wild animals — deer, hawks, even the occasional bear. He was an avid bridge player, serving on the board of the Bridge Deck Club of Naples and achieving Life Master status with his partner Marsha in 2017.
The pride of Chuck’s life was his granddaughter Madeline, with whom he would regularly play Battleship on his iPhone to help close the miles between Naples and Woburn. He sprung for countless stuffed animals at zoo gift shops, and always took great delight in the original comics Madeline would send him, starring her family pets.
Charles A. Young III was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 7, 1943, to parents Madeline (Brier) and Charles Young II. Raised in Milton, Chuck graduated from Williams College (1965) and Boston University School of Law (1968) and afterward spent time in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore participating in the Vista/AmeriCorps program. He subsequently joined his father at the family firm, Young & Carney, on the corner of Bromfield and Tremont in downtown Boston where he practiced real estate law. He married Joyce Ann Cook in Gloucester in 1969, and in 1971, the couple moved to Acton, where they raised their son Steven together until Joyce’s untimely passing in 1983. He was introduced to Marsha Girouard in 2007, and the two enjoyed the following 18 years together in Medway and Naples.
Chuck left us too soon on May 30, 2025, due to complications from cancer. He is survived by his son Steven B. Young and his wife Jennifer (Lucas) of Woburn; his granddaughter Madeline E. Young of Woburn; and his partner Marsha Girouard of Naples, Florida. He was predeceased by his parents and younger brother, David.
We will always admire Chuck’s wit, his curiosity, and his loyalty to those he loved. He rose to life’s challenges, triumphed over loss, and continued to enjoy himself and the company of others. He knew how to laugh, and he knew how to make you laugh too.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Chuck’s honor to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute or the Southern Poverty Law Center. A celebration of Chuck’s life will be scheduled at a later date.
