Al Young redux

I wrote earlier about renaming Foothill Park for Al Young.

Today, I met Gordon Young, who is Paly class of ’74. I mistook him for a Pinoy golf caddie I met at a sports bar a few months back, watching football. Mister Young was wearing a 49ers scarf whereas I was merely wearing a red zippered sweat top — for Gunn (plus a t-shirt for “Fear and Loathing…” but I won’t get ahead of myself).

He looked familiar, possibly like: Wanda Young Ching, Jessica Yu, Jennifer Yu, Wanda’s brother with the ’57 Thunderbird, Connie Young Yu.

https://www.outsidelands.org/chinese-in-the-richmond-alfred-john-young-and-connie-young-yu.php

When Jessica Yu won the Academy Award for best documentary short — for a film about a man with post-polio syndrome who became a successful writer Mark O’Brian, it’s called “Breathing Lessons” — the Gunn art building had just been destroyed by fire. I noticed that Jennifer’s car was in the driveway of the Yu residence not far from where I lived most of my childhood so I left a note on the car, inviting her into my scheme: we did a benefit screening of her films that raised $40,000 for Gunn, half in ticket sales including “golden circle” plus a matching grant from Packard Foundation. 

But I remember very well going into Chef Chu’s restaurant and telling the boss man, Mr. Chu or Chef Chu Himself  or Lawrence Chu about my event and he said “is that Connie Young Yu’s daughter?”

Connie Young Yu I think of as “Mrs Yu” because she is the mother of my two school mates – Jessica was on staff when I was editor-in-chief of the Oracle — but many people might think her as a Young. The Youngs are one of the first Family Associations of Chinese Americans.

Connie’s father was Alfred John Young who was a very successful man and a Palo Altan. He was also known as Colonel John Young — he served our country in WWII and was also a Stanford graduate.

Stanford by the way has a video history project that features Jennifer Yu, Gunn ’82 Stanford ’86 talking about all this. Jennifer I wrote about once for the Times Tribune: she and her cousin Elliot were all America fencers for Stanford. 

Connie Young Yu spoke at a public hearing not long ago about renaming Jordan Junior High and said she would not oppose “Yamamoto” although many new arrivals from China did. (It is now named for Greene who is not actually from here).

So now I am wondering on a Monday morning about renaming Foothill Park for Al Young; what about Alfred John and Albert James “Al Young” Park or Preserve Of Or Near Palo Alto Traditional Ohlone Land?

Forever Young Park.. Didi I mention I am turning 60 this weak. Or completing 60 if I were in Mexico. As is my wife. 

I shot an elephant this morning in my pajamas…or was that a shit zoo?