Joseph B. Young

Joseph B. Young, 91 years, of Alameda, California, passed away on November 3, 2023, after a lengthy illness. He was born on January 5, 1932, and raised in Salinas, California. Joe was predeceased by his parents M. Bayard and Esther C. Young, and a few good friends and family, especially Samuel Purdy. He is survived by several close relatives and a host of good friends.

He received his Associate of Arts degree from Palomar Community College and his Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce from Santa Clara University. He proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War era. Joe became a Merchandising Executive for the Montgomery Ward Catalog House in East Oakland. He supervised a large staff who were responsible for publishing the well-known Montgomery Ward catalog. After Wards closed he was employed by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service in San Francisco.

He was a resident of Alameda since 1963. For 25 years after retirement, Joe volunteered as the Curatorial Assistant at the Alameda Museum.

Collecting photographs became a great joy and pleasure in Joe’s life. Two of his friends were instrumental in encouraging his early interest in the history and evolution of photography. This began many decades of his passion for collecting photographs resulting in a collection of 2300 photos from both the 19th and 20th centuries. His real pleasure came from researching and donating photos to appropriate historical societies and state archives.

The Funeral Mass for Joe will be on Tuesday, November 21, at 10 AM, at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, 1022 Holly St, Alameda, CA 94502. A Private internment will take place at Mountain View Cemetery. Donations in his memory may be sent to the Alameda Museum, 2324 Alameda Ave., Alameda, CA, 94501.