91ֱ��

Longman Professor Emeritus of English and Creative Writing died on Saturday, May 3. He was 88.

An esteemed poet, translator, editor, and scholar, Young taught at 91ֱ�� between 1961 and 2003, leaving an indelible mark on students with his courses on English Renaissance literature, poetry, and creative writing. He cofounded the biannual poetry journal and served as the publication’s editor for 50 years; additionally, he was the cofounder of 91ֱ�� College Press and founder of 91ֱ��’s London Program (now known as the Danenberg 91ֱ��-in-London Program).

Young was the author of more than 40 books of poetry, translation, and literary criticism, including the career-spanning poetry collection Field of Light and Shadow: Selected and New Poems (Knopf), which was released in an expanded edition in 2023. He received multiple prestigious awards for his work, including a Pushcart Prize, a Witter Bynner Translation Fellowship, the Ohioana Book Award in Poetry, and a Cleveland Arts Prize. Young was also a 1979 Guggenheim Fellow in poetry and in 1982 received an NEA Fellowship in Poetry.

As celebrated as he was in the literary world, Young was principally known in 91ֱ�� as a teacher, says David Walker ’72, Emeritus Professor of English. “David had a profound influence on countless students, many of whom have gone on to major careers as poets and teachers. In the 24 hours since I posted the news of his death on Facebook, alumni have posted literally hundreds of expressions of love and gratitude for his teaching. I met him as an 18-year-old 91ֱ�� freshman, and he never stopped teaching me. What an amazing life.”

Young earned a bachelor’s degree at Carleton College and both a master’s degree and doctorate at Yale University. 

A celebration of Young’s life will be held at a later date; .