Dina M. Young
Dina M. Young died in St. Louis, Missouri, on her 57th birthday, April 6, 2019, from a rare form of cervical cancer that had metastasized to her lungs. She handled her disease graciously throughout its 3-year course, choosing not to think of it as a battle, but rather as part of life.
Dina was born on April 6, 1962, and she grew up in Tonawanda, New York, with her parents, Harold Young and Dorothy Young, both now deceased, and her sister, Debra (Young) LaJoy and her brother, Douglas Young.
Dina moved to St. Louis in 1985 to pursue graduate education, receiving a Master of Arts in History from Washington University, and a Master of Social Work from St. Louis University. She worked for over 17 years as an Assistant Archivist for the Missouri History Museum, and collaborated on some of the original “Where We Live” neighborhood brochures. Just for fun and pocket change, she spent many summer evenings as a parking attendant in the VIP Parking lot of The Muny. She then followed her love of music and theater in 2011 by working in the box offices of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and Opera Theatre of St. Louis.
Dina found joy through singing when she joined CHARIS – The St. Louis Women’s Chorus in 1994, where she became a strong member of the Alto II section. She met Susan McIntosh at a rehearsal in 2001, when Susan joined CHARIS as a singer and then accompanist. Dina and Susan began dating in 2007 and they were married in May 2011. Dina shared her sense of humor and writing skills with the chorus in her now famous announcement song lyrics, and as a co-writer of the libretto for “The Vegans of Provincetown,” which CHARIS performed in 2007, based on the Gilbert and Sullivan opera, “The Pirates of Penzance.”
Dina was admired for how beautifully she played the clarinet, and she performed in the clarinet section of Band Together for 17 seasons. She also shared her quick wit with the Band’s audiences by serving as a concert emcee for 4 of those years. Dina and Susan occasionally performed together as The Ginger Snaps, including several appearances at the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Music Festival, sharing their love of ragtime and early jazz music.
Dina had no children of her own, but her life was enriched by Susan’s three daughters, Emily Scott, Margaret Scott, and Angela (Scott) Herbst. Dina’s pets were also very special to her, and she often referred to her dog, Kobi, and her cat, Cecil, as her “fur babies.”
Dina had chosen the American Cancer Society to be the recipient of charitable contributions in honor of her birthday. Memorial donations may also be made to CHARIS through their website, CharisChorus.org, or to BandTogether at BandTogetherSTL.com. Dina’s ashes will be placed in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis at a later date, along with a memorial service.
I worked with Dina at Missouri Historical Society. After we both left there we continued to maintain connections. I attended many Charis concerts. I always looked forward to visiting afterward and occasionally at the box office at the Rep. I loved her wit and gentleness. She will be missed for sure.
Even though I hadn’t seen Dina since she was young girl growing up in Tonawanda, NY, I remember her bright red hair, her bright and subtle smile, and the love and kindness of her family. Dina was 11 years younger, and my childhood friend, Debra Young and I were classmates.
I often wished I had the opportunity to meet Dina later on in life. This obituary brought bittersweet tears for her most fulfilled but shortened life with Susan. Her brilliance musically, theatrically, and educationally are profoundly waritten and heartwarming!
Her dear sister, my loving friend, is also preparing to meet her maker, as she too is in Hospice with a rare form of cancer. I hope they can enter Heaven together soon! What a joyful time that will be for the Young family who left before them.
God Speed and Love to you both, Dina, especially now for her wife,Susan. If you ever come to St. Lucie, FL, or Wolfeboro, NH, please come visit Chuck, my life partner, and me, Snowbirds! ??????????
God bless you all!
Dina was a brilliant, talented, ginger lesbian. She will be missed by the many people whose lives she enriched. May her memory be a blessing.
I didn’t know Dina personally. I only today became acquainted with some of her work by reading a marvelous article she wrote about the St. Louis Equal Suffrage League. It’s a wonderful contribution to women’s history research, as well as a model of historical writing—beautifully written, with clarity, economy and grace. I was going to email her to tell her how much I admire it, and am devastated to learn that she died just 10 days ago. My sincere condolences to her spouse, family, friends, colleagues and co-workers.