In Memory of Roosevelt Young
Donation protected
It is with great sorrow that we, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, inform you of the passing of our beloved Roosevelt Young.
Roosevelt’s family informed the Aquarium that he passed on Friday January 08, 2021 due to complications associated with Covid-19. We have since learned that his wife and daughter are also hospitalized fighting this horrible disease. After a long career with the City of Los Angeles, Roosevelt was preparing for his retirement and his Aquarium family was looking forward to watching him enjoy his much-deserved retirement years. Roosevelt was a true family man who had infinite love for his family especially his loving wife Pat of 60 years, his children, and his granddaughter Chanel.
We are asking for your assistance to help support Roosevelt’s family with hospital expenses, funeral expenses, and the current care of his wife and daughter.
As CMA staff learned of the news of this terrible loss, many have shared individual memories and expressions of love that we all have for this great man, our friend Roosevelt. Some memories include his great love for his family, his kindness for everyone, his upbeat attitude, his Workshop, his willingness to teach and share his wisdom, his love for the Lakers, and having a smile on his face for everyone he met.
When CMA obtained a shop building it was turned over to Roosevelt where he happily designed and created The Workshop; a space shared and used by all. He used his Workshop, and it truly was his, as a place to teach staff how to use power tools, make repairs, and to share his love of woodworking. His skills and knowledge were freely given to anyone; from building a deck, repairing walls, lifting hundreds of pounds of pavers or repairing anything that was brought to him. Roosevelt was always willing and able to help get the job done.
Roosevelt had a knack for understanding CMA staff’s “other language” when describing an object including the “what-cha-ma-call-it”, the “thing-a-ma-bob”, or simply using your hands in random shapes.
Roosevelt’s advice and words of wisdom were known by all including his famous sayings like, "no matter how much you love your job, a Friday is still a Friday!", and “alright, you getting fancy now” when you very proudly accomplished something. One CMA staff member will always remember “once you have stability, you can do a lot with it”; words they feel can be applied to anything in life.
It was Roosevelt’s kindness and upbeat attitude that will be missed the most. His willingness to drop what he was doing and help without being asked. Looking at a project you were doing, he’d shake his head, walk over to his workshop and re-appear moments later with a tool or technique that made your project better and easier. That care and support will be forever missed.
As stated by another CMA staff member “The world needs more people like Roosevelt Young and I feel incredibly lucky to have gotten the chance to work with him”.
Roosevelt’s family informed the Aquarium that he passed on Friday January 08, 2021 due to complications associated with Covid-19. We have since learned that his wife and daughter are also hospitalized fighting this horrible disease. After a long career with the City of Los Angeles, Roosevelt was preparing for his retirement and his Aquarium family was looking forward to watching him enjoy his much-deserved retirement years. Roosevelt was a true family man who had infinite love for his family especially his loving wife Pat of 60 years, his children, and his granddaughter Chanel.
We are asking for your assistance to help support Roosevelt’s family with hospital expenses, funeral expenses, and the current care of his wife and daughter.
As CMA staff learned of the news of this terrible loss, many have shared individual memories and expressions of love that we all have for this great man, our friend Roosevelt. Some memories include his great love for his family, his kindness for everyone, his upbeat attitude, his Workshop, his willingness to teach and share his wisdom, his love for the Lakers, and having a smile on his face for everyone he met.
When CMA obtained a shop building it was turned over to Roosevelt where he happily designed and created The Workshop; a space shared and used by all. He used his Workshop, and it truly was his, as a place to teach staff how to use power tools, make repairs, and to share his love of woodworking. His skills and knowledge were freely given to anyone; from building a deck, repairing walls, lifting hundreds of pounds of pavers or repairing anything that was brought to him. Roosevelt was always willing and able to help get the job done.
Roosevelt had a knack for understanding CMA staff’s “other language” when describing an object including the “what-cha-ma-call-it”, the “thing-a-ma-bob”, or simply using your hands in random shapes.
Roosevelt’s advice and words of wisdom were known by all including his famous sayings like, "no matter how much you love your job, a Friday is still a Friday!", and “alright, you getting fancy now” when you very proudly accomplished something. One CMA staff member will always remember “once you have stability, you can do a lot with it”; words they feel can be applied to anything in life.
It was Roosevelt’s kindness and upbeat attitude that will be missed the most. His willingness to drop what he was doing and help without being asked. Looking at a project you were doing, he’d shake his head, walk over to his workshop and re-appear moments later with a tool or technique that made your project better and easier. That care and support will be forever missed.
As stated by another CMA staff member “The world needs more people like Roosevelt Young and I feel incredibly lucky to have gotten the chance to work with him”.
Organizer and beneficiary
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Chanel Young
Beneficiary