Obituary of John Kimball Young

John Kimball Young of Camden, 83, died Oct. 28, 2023, at Maine Medical Center in Portland, after a brief decline in health. 

John was born April 1, 1940, on Staten Island, N.Y., to Carl V. Young (originally from Vinalhaven) and Evelyn (Ekstrand) Young of Tottenville. He was educated in local schools and graduated from Tottenville High School. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree, Magna Cum Laude, with a concentration in mathematics from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, and also did some graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. 

John worked in the seminal days of computer programming and software engineering, including information management systems stints at Pratt & Whitney, Fairchild, Auxco/CBIS, Bellcore and Princeton University’s registrar’s office. At one point, he was recognized as one of the top database recovery control experts in the nation. 

Always a traveler by car, train and thumb, John often switched coasts via cross-country road trips, living in New Jersey, Minnesota and the Bay Area of California. John, his former wife, Ayrol, and cousin Laurie Ekstrand and her husband Bill Eckart enjoyed many trips and adventures together.  

John met his goal of retiring early, settling near family on the Midcoast in 1993. He continued to road trip at least two times a year, taking northern or southern routes to visit friends and family, see the country and enjoy many a diner’s fried walleye fish platter. A perennial destination was the ferry from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy, British Columbia. 

Another lifetime passion was horse racing. For decades, John and childhood friend Roger Monty took in the Kentucky Derby in person. Later, John handled the wagers at family Derby Day parties and picnics. And he was a skilled cook, treating his friends and family to delicious, meticulously researched and prepared meals. John was a devoted uncle to his three nieces and their children. 

John was predeceased by his parents and brother-in-law, Gene Ernest. He is survived by his sister, Carlyn Ernest of Camden; cousin Laurie Ekstrand of College Park, Md.; nieces Dagney Ernest (Bill Eberle) of Thomaston, Melissa Aul (Jerry) of Rice Lake, Wis., and Kristé Ernest (Ron Smith) of Rockland; great-nieces and -nephew Dr. Allison Saiz (Dr. Augustine, Jr.) of Sacramento, Calif., Dr. Bryce Aul (Dr. Andrea) of Green Lake, Wis., and Alayna Pollis (Ben) of Williston, N.D.; and friends near and far. 

Memories and condolences may be shared on his tribute wall.