Roderic Pierce Young

Roderic (Rod) Pierce Young, 82, of Bowie, Maryland, passed away on December 12, 2023, surrounded by his immediate family at George Washington University Hospital, following a recent stroke.

Ever witty, fair, and caring, Rod lived his life dedicated to his family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Bertha Olvera (née Diaz) Young, their two children, Lucia Linda Young and Roderic (Roddy) Olvera Young, his wife, Gretchen Young and five grandchildren, Tatiana and Antonio Caicedo, and Pilar, Graham, and Holden Young.

Rod was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania to Bertha Pierce Young (yes, the same first name as his wife) and Frederick William Young. Brother to two siblings, William (Bill) Young and Rosemary Young (deceased), Rod grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Rod met Bertha during their studies at the University of California, Berkeley, where Bertha was a graduate student from Mexico. The language of love overcame their initial language barrier. Dating took them on many adventures together, including romantic, if dangerous rides (no helmets) on a Vespa through the Berkeley hills and the surrounding Bay Area. Their love brought them together in marriage in Bertha’s hometown of Mexico City.

Rod believed in honesty and treating all equally:  values he instilled in his children. He was also a huge believer in exposing his kids to different cultures, foods, arts, music and lots of sports. Month long trips to Mexico and the West Coast, often by car, were rooted in his primary passion: travel with family. More than anything Rod enjoyed planning and taking trips near and far.

At home, during many weekends, cheers could be heard by the neighbors as he and Bertha rooted loudly for favorite teams. His dedication to sports included traveling to his children’s many events and games. Whether near his home or while traveling, he enjoyed long walks or hikes, and the time to think about his next explorations. In his younger years, the tennis court was a place of competition, social activity, and family exercise. He was also an avid builder and do-it-yourselfer: he built a sailboat from scratch; created backyard landscapes; and completed many home projects with Bertha, both as a way to save money, but also a way to make the work last longer and look better. In his retirement, he continued to enjoy travel with his wife and family.

For his entire career he served in public relations for the Internal Revenue Service. His words and voice were often printed and broadcast across the nation’s major media channels. His reserve, good humor, and integrity will be remembered fondly.

A memorial service will be held at Beall Funeral Home in Bowie, Maryland. His family invites friends to gather at Beall Funeral Home on Thursday, December 21st, from 5-6pm, with the memorial service to immediately follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in the family’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association - https://act.alz.org