Robert John Young

Robert John Young, Ph.D. of Charlotte, NC, passed away on June 29, 2026. Born on March 23, 1946, in Ballycastle, County Antrim in the North of Ireland, John was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Young (neé McLaughlin). His family moved to London when he was a child, but he returned to the Glens of Antrim every summer to work on his uncle’s farm and always referred to the Glens as home. It was there that he first observed the importance of community. Every morning his uncle would scan the Glens to ensure there was smoke coming from the nearby farmhouses, a sign that his neighbors were safe.

After graduating from the University of London, John immigrated to the United States in 1971 to pursue his graduate studies at Purdue University, which is where he met his wife, Mary Pat Siczek. Their family would grow to include their daughter Moira and son Seán. Upon obtaining his master’s and doctoral degrees at Purdue, he completed post-doctoral research into the psychology of aging at Washington University in St. Louis and taught at both universities.

After his time in academia, John created the human resources function for an Indiana corn company and was the Founding Director of the Charlotte Institute for Health Promotion within a medical center (now Atrium Health). These experiences helped him formulate his views on the nature of healthy organizations by evaluating their health risks, which is prospective medicine. Later in his career he would become President of the Society of Prospective Medicine.

In 1987, John founded MYgroup and led the company to become a global employee assistance program and consulting firm. An international expert on the development of trusted and effective leaders, John authored two books: The Five Essential Leadership Questions: Living with Passion, Leading through Trust and Being Intentional: Making Work and Play One and the Same.

John advised leaders to travel with their children by the age of 10, before they go “behind the moon.” He was fortunate to travel the world for work, as evident by being a “Million Miler,” and bring his children with him. During a trip to Europe, John instructed Moira to navigate Paris for them with her limited knowledge of French. One of Sean’s trips included John’s undergraduate professor Joe Jagger, the father of a Rolling Stone, serving as their London tour guide. Executives he coached would thank him for their “behind the moon” trips with their children.

Like his uncle in the Glens, John paid particular attention to the welfare of the Irish community. With a small group of Irish immigrants, John founded the Irish Society of Charlotte (now Charlotte Irish Connection) and was named its first President in 1986. After years of nurturing the Irish diaspora, he was appointed the first Honorary Consul of Ireland for North Carolina in 2014. He further supported local bilateral relations as Chairman of the Executive Board of the Irish American Business Alliance of North Carolina. His legacy was recognized in 2015 when he served as the Grand Marshal of the Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade and in June 2026 when the Charlotte Irish Connection renamed their Annual Irish Lecture in his honor.

John’s talents were many. He was an astute observer and listener, but also an engaging storyteller and writer. He relished learning about people’s life stories. He was a dreamer, an entrepreneur, and to his children’s dismay too comfortable “winging it.” It helped that he had such a keen sense of direction. He was an excellent cook who never needed a recipe but cherished his cookbooks. He was an introvert yet the life of every party. He had a beautiful voice, was an impressive dancer, and acted in the Irish play Moll as an adult. He recharged his battery at his favorite places, Lake James and Galway, and was grateful for the opportunity to share their natural beauty with others. With his Irish humility, he often described himself as “a lovely boy,” which he was.

He is survived by his wife Mary Pat Young, daughter Moira LoCascio and her husband Teddy, son Seán Young and his wife Kiera, and his grandchildren, Keane, Gabe, Teagan, and Fionnula of Charlotte. He is also survived by his sister Brenda Heavey of London, sister-in-law Muggs Widelski of Oak Island, brother-in-law Chuck Siczek and his wife Cherrill of Charlotte, and many beloved Irish cousins.

The visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. followed by mass at 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at St. Gabriel Catholic Church 3016 Providence Rd. Charlotte, NC 28211. Donations may be made in John’s honor to Catholic Relief Services.