Robert G. Young, 100, of Bedminster, Inventor

Robert Gaines Young of Bedminster died at the age of 100 on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at his home.

Born in 1923, he was the son of Floyd and Nettie Young of Vincennes, Indiana.  Bob was class president and stayed active with his class through 50 years of reunions and newsletters.  He was also a record setting member of the Track & Cross Country Teams for Lincoln High School.

Bob attended Purdue University and graduated in two and a half years with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.  While there he was a member of the Track & Cross Country Teams and elected to Eta Kappa Nu and Tau Beta Pi.  After graduating with honors, he joined Westinghouse in Bloomfield, NJ and advanced to Fellow Engineer.  Bob, or Gaines as he was known to his work colleagues, was granted 24 patents.  He was a member of the American Vacuum Society, the American Physical Society and the Illuminating Engineering Society and was a registered Professional Engineer in NJ.  He retired from Philips Lighting in 1985.

In 1947, Bob married Ella May Schlear and moved from Newark to Nutley, NJ.

Bob was a member of St. Paul’s Congregational Church in Nutley for over 30 years where he was a Sunday School teacher, Youth Group leader followed by terms on the various boards – Education, Deacon, and Trustees – before becoming Church Moderator.

After retiring from Philips Lighting, Bob started a consulting business in lighting allowing him to continue to share his expertise with others.  He also traveled to research family ancestry and published volumes of various family trees.

After the passing of his first wife, he married Rose Jean Finacal Gemme, also originally from Vincennes, in 1989.  They resided in Bedminster, NJ.

Bob was predeceased by both of his wives and his sisters, Sylvia Young nd Joan (Young) Leedy.

He leaves behind a legacy of love through his children: Suzanne Young of Wyckoff, NJ, Cynthia (Young) Steitz and husband, Ray Steitz, of Basking Ridge, NJ, and Jonathan Young of Newburyport, MA.  He was a much-cherished grandfather to Jennifer Freeman of Hartsdale, NY, Julia Steitz of Brooklyn, NY, Allison Steitz of Morristown, NJ, and John Steitz of Manhattan, NY.

Through his marriage to Rose Jean, he also leaves behind step children: Donna Brooten (husband: Rick Brooten), Emmet Gemme and Lynette Braunhardt (husband: Glenn Braunhardt, predeceasd), nine step grandchildren plus spouses and eight step great grandchildren.

Bob’s memory will forever live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations to honor Bob’s memory be made to the American Heart Association.  Arrangements are by Layton Funeral Home, 475 Main Street, Bedminster.