Lesley Roy Photography
Lesley Roy submitted this obituary of New Haven Magazine and Business New Haven Publisher Mitchell Young, who died Feb. 15 at the age of 68.
For more than 45 years, Mitchell Young was an unstoppable force that touched the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of people in the Greater New Haven community.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Aug. 11, 1951, to Leon and Laura Young and attending Stuyvesant High School, then Brooklyn College, Mitch later moved to Northampton, Massachusetts, where he became the deputy publisher of the Valley Advocate alternative weekly newspaper in 1973. He greatly expanded the Advocate chain to a succession of groundbreaking publications including the Fairfield County Advocate, New Haven Advocate, Hartford Advocate, Springfield Advocate and the Keene, N.H., Advocate.
In 1993 he took his business savvy skills and set out on his own, starting Second Wind Media to compete with his own Advocate.
Mitchell Young, co-founder and publisher of Business New Haven, and later New Haven magazine, was one of the most principled and selfless advocates that the Greater New Haven community has ever had.
Mitch’s purpose driven energy launched widely coveted creations; The Book of Lists, The Connecticut Green Business Awards, Health Care Heroes, and more.
To know Mitch was to respect Mitch. Whether you agreed with him or not, his opinions mattered. You might say he was the influencer of influencers before they ever coined the trendy modern-day term.
His boundless energy and passionate commitment to serving the community he loved only grew. Over the years, his publications and particularly the popular New Haven magazine. “Ten Years of Detailed Interviews With New Haven’s Most Dynamic People”, became the prism and platform through which he celebrated and honored the many people he saw as the pulsing heartbeat of the city. Entrepreneurs, business icons, start ups, mom & pop shops, artists, inventors & creators of all walks of life fascinated Mitch, and they all had a voice with his “One To One” interviews and thoughtful features.
Mitchell Young enjoyed handing out his own “Community Oscars” to people who deserved to be recognized and awarded for their achievements.
As time went on, Mitchell Young personified the ultimate “Advocate.” He strongly believed that to have a thriving community, stories of everyday experiences, of people leading the way by example and dedicating their lives to their pursuits, be it educating our children, caring for our loved ones in time of medical need, teaching and sharing the arts, and so much more, should all be recognized and celebrated as special people — caring for people in need, through innovation or just plain love.
He avidly celebrated every intriguing facet of culture, from the creative capitalists, educators, scientist, doctors, nurses, artists, thought leaders, musicians, students, style trendsetters, restauranteurs, designer and innovators from any field imaginable — lifestyle makers across the map. History and sense of place was also important to Mitch. He and his team of dedicated staffers, showcased his vision with expertly designed layouts and cover stories highlighting the richness of the region. This valuable community service was his humble gift to New Haven.
He honored so many businesses and people in the community that he felt made a difference — that collectively wove the rich and diverse fabric that was, as he coined the term; and made T‑shirts to prove it: The Greatest Small City in America!
Mitchell had a jovial sense of humor and could communicate with anyone. If you were worthy of praise he would give it with pride and give heartfelt recognition or a special award, it didn’t matter what you were, whether Black, white, Latino, male or female, transgender, Buddhist, vegetarian, Mediterranean, Asian, Jewish or Muslim. Mitch would tell your story and give you praise and respect.
But to really understand where Mitch’s passion for the unsung heroes came from, was to know the foundational story of where his parents came from and how they survived WWII, for this is why the symbol of American freedom, liberty and justice for all was so significant.
Mitch’s dad was a young boy from a small village in Belarus who, upon returning home for supper one winter day, discovered the unimaginable horror, that the Nazis had massacred his entire village of innocent people. His father seldom spoke of his life after he fled and banded with a small group of Jewish refugees who with sheer determination foraged in the forest and barely survived until the war ended. His father was one of the lucky ones who found their new home in America and considered it to be the greatest country on earth.
Fighting for human rights and dignity for people who can’t always defend themselves, and recognizing and honoring achievements for those deserving, was in Mitch’s DNA. To know Mitch Young, is to know this fundamentally important motivation in his life.
So, if you have been inspired, recognized or honored by Mitchell Young, it’s time to give back and carry forward the torch of liberty to honor Michell Young. Please take a moment, light a candle in his honor and reflect on a good memory of Mitchell Young, a well respected friend to many, who will be missed by many.
Mitchell is survived by his sister Michelle, brother Arthur, nieces and nephew Victoria, Orion, Dahlia, Lilly, and his beloved Doghealer GiGi.
Donations in Mitch Young’s name may be given to The Smilow Cancer Center.
A memorial service is being planned for the spring in New Haven and will be announced soon.
Peace, Mitch. You were a staple of the community and a friend. Thanks for always being so supportive and for the thoughtful conversation. You'll be missed.