John Young, 80, passed into peace on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at Agape Senior – West Columbia, SC. Born in New York City in 1933, John was the son of Ruby and Jack Arlotta. John earned a BA in Journalism from Indiana University, and later an MA in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Even though the man on TV who drinks Dos Equis claims to be "the most interesting man in the world", those of us who knew John, without reservation believe otherwise. Though John spent his last few years in relative seclusion in the Five Points area in Columbia, SC, up until then, John's life, his passions, and accomplishments were anything but common place. One family member used the term "enchanted" to describe his verve. Henry David Thoreau found peace and introspection on Walden Pond, perhaps something John was seeking in his last days; however, before John's illness fashioned a dark cloud over him, he lived his rainbowesque life to its fullest. John traveled, cooked, enjoyed the best wines (and knew them), edited novels, and "rubbed elbows" with a plethora of famous people, but seemed almost embarrassed to talk about his interesting experiences when asked. Among the cast of characters John knew intimately as friends, mainly through his gourmet dinners and eclectic career, Julie Andrews, James Michener, Tennessee Williams, Leonard Bernstein and Jimmy Buffett stand out…just to name a few.

John was also a philanthropist who traveled to Cuba over 60 times to bring medical supplies and other sundries to the Cuban people who he (John) claimed to be the most beautiful people in the world. And John should know…in that he traveled abroad frequently. While John was drafted into the Army in his youth, he soon began working at the United Nations because of his fluency in five languages, an obvious prodigy, brimming with untapped talents that would come to full fruition as the years advanced. This writer feels apprehensive about writing the obituary for such an extraordinary craftsman of words as John, and it is the hope of this writer that these words will be fitting to John's memory. So, to John…all of us who knew you and loved you, we are raising our glasses of Cab Sav and shouting "salud"…and we thank you for having touched our lives with your unique charisma, wit and eccentricity.

John is survived by his brother, Roland C. Young (wife Ilsa); niece, Mary Ann Reeley (husband Stan); nephews, Mark Young (wife Lena) and Roe Young; also, by great nieces and nephews, Whitneigh, Cassity, and Oz Bible; Michelle Young, Jacob Reeley, and Cayman Young; friends, Liz and husband Deems, and Genevieve Lear, Hank Villate and Bob.

A memorial service will be held in a very special locale for John, Key West, Florida at a later date.

Thank you to the staff at Agape Senior – West Columbia, South Carolina for all of your help. Anyone who wishes to make a donation in John's memory, please send it to Agape, 1053 Center St, West Columbia, SC 29169.