Irene Young was all about bringing old friends together in her 101 years – a hard-working Manteca High School alumni organizer.  She passed away November 21, 2010 in Turlock.  Born Irene Mary Rox May 15, 1909.

She headed up the Manteca High Alumni Reunion Association as the chairman for reunion events for the classes from 1923 to 1956 for a dozen years.  The first reunion that she put on the calendar was in 1977 with the help of the late John Gatto – longtime Bank of America manager in Manteca.

“She was the spark,” recalled one Manteca friend after hearing of her death.  She was lauded as being the sole chairman for three more consecutive reunions that she organized every two years.  A graduate of Manteca High in 1928, she was a charter member and one of the first to sign on as a docent for the Manteca Historical Society Museum.
Irene was a selfless supporter of the high school and its athletic department.  She also was a member and served as a president of the Young Women’s Service Club in the ‘40s and ‘50s in Manteca.  

She donated her time and talent to the boards of directors of the Manteca School District and St. Paul’s Federated Church.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband Charles Stuart Young, known to many as C.A. Young, and one grandson.  She leaves one sister Lorraine Westwood, her daughters, Shirley Steinagel and Maxine Rasmussen, four grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Manteca Historical Society in her name.