July 14, 1949 – September 6, 2022
Dr. James Edward Young, 73, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, September 6, 2022. He died at home unexpectedly of a sudden heart attack although very healthy and active.
Jim was born in Tacoma, Washington, on July 14, 1949 to Eugene A. Young and Helen E. Pizzo. His father was a Tacoma firefighter and his mother, a homemaker. His grandparents were Llewellyn V. and Hazel (Sines) Young of Tacoma, and Dominic and Rosina (Mauro) Pizzo also of Tacoma. His Pizzo grandparents immigrated from Cosenza, Italy. There would be family gatherings at both grandparents with lots of cousins to play with.
Jim grew up in Tacoma with three sisters, Patricia, Diana and Carol. He always excelled in math. His junior high math teacher would often have Jim help teach the class. For extra money, Jim would pick blackberries in the gulch behind their house to sell to the bakery on Yakima Avenue. Every summer for the month of August, his dad would take the family to Ilwaco, Washington where he would sport commercial fish from his boat. They would all stay in a big tent at Ole’s Campground. His mom would can clams right at the beach. Jim learned to fish from his dad and gained a love for salmon fishing.
In 8th grade the family moved to a small farm in the Midland area. Jim milked the cows in the morning before school. He always liked their big vegetable garden and always made sure to have a garden wherever he lived. He made good friends in the neighborhood that he kept the rest of his life. Jim graduated from Franklin Pierce HS in 1967.
Jim joined the Navy in 1968 and served in Vietnam on the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk from 1968-1972. After the Navy he attended Tacoma Community College and worked for Dr. Bernard Pinckney as a veterinary assistant who encouraged Jim to apply to Washington State College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Pinckney changed the course of Jim’s life. We, as a family, are so very grateful. Also, in his first year at TCC Jim met Janet Tonkin. They were married in his first year of vet school in December 1975 at First Presbyterian Church Tacoma. Jim received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1979.
In 1980 Jim and Janet came to Bremerton with their first baby. He began work as the new veterinarian for Dr. John Sitton at Bayview Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Sitton really liked Jim and taught and mentored him. Jim bought Bayview in 1983 after the sudden passing of Dr. Sitton. Jim considered his work as a calling to the community of Bremerton. Jim worked with Bremerton Police Officers and Kitsap Sheriff’s Deputies to train them in emergency medical aid for their K-9 partners. Long after house calls were a thing of the past, Jim would make special house calls for older clients or for those with especially large dogs.
Jim wanted to raise his kids on a small farm, so he and Janet purchased a few acres in Poulsbo to have some farm animals and of course, a big garden. He liked to work in his green house and started most of the vegetables from seed. He took his family camping and fishing every summer in Ilwaco and Port Angeles. There are so many happy memories.
Loving the game of golf was a major part of his life, golfing mostly at Gold Mountain. For Jim, the comradery of his golfing buddies made the game for him. He was able to go for a great week of golf in Ireland. Afterward, he took the ferry to Scotland where he met up with Janet who was visiting friends. They continued on to travel in Europe.
Jim’s Italian family was so special to him. In 2017 he and Janet finally got to go to Italy. What a surprise and privilege it was for Jim to actually meet cousins when visiting his grandparent’s hometown. They certainly treated us like family. He always planned to return after he sold the practice.
Jim was enjoying retirement in Maple Valley and once again, on a small hobby farm with a big garden. He was really enjoying his 3 grandkids and planning fishing adventures to take them on.
Jim is survived by his wife, Janet; daughter, Jennifer Nara and her husband, Christopher; son, Andrew and his wife, Rebecca; 3 grandchildren; and his sisters, Diana Tomatich (William) and Carol Lucero; Patricia Spain is deceased. Jim also leaves his extended family and many dear friends, old and new.
Jim was wonderful and so much fun. He was generous and kind. He cared about his clients and their animals. Jim liked to surprise his wife on her birthday. One of the most exciting adventures Jim and Janet had together was being invited by Chinese friends and going to the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Jim himself is really unforgettable and loved and missed so much.
Many thanks for all the love and support from friends and family. We cherish your cards and posted comments. Thank you to those at Hobart Community Church and Seaside Church for your help at this time.
Jim’s Memorial Service will be at Tahoma National Cemetery, Wednesday, September 28th. The time to line up cars is 1:15 and the service will start promptly at 1:30. They will lead us to the Memorial Shelter. The address is: 18600 SE 240th Street, Kent, WA 98042-4868 They have a website.
Grace is indeed needed to turn
a man into a saint, and he
who doubts it does not know
what a saint or a man is.
~ Blaise Pascal, French mathematician 1623-1662