Obituary of Alice Victoria Holloway Young

ROCHESTER, NY – April 24, 2024 Obituary of Dr. Alice Victoria Holloway Young Alice Victoria Holloway Young, EdD, education administrator was born on September 29, 1923, in Warrenton County, North Carolina to the late John Amos Holloway and the late Lucy Hughes Allen Holloway. She was the youngest of seven siblings, six girls and one boy. Alice graduated valedictorian, from Warren County Training School in 1940, which landed her a $1,500 college scholarship. Alice set off to Bennett College, located in Greensboro, North Carolina with her $1,500 scholarship covering four years of school and one pair of blue shoes, handed down from her older sister. In 1944, she earned her B.S. degree in Childhood Development and Nutrition. Alice was second in her 1944 Bennett College graduating class. Education was always a motivation among the Holloway women. Alice’s mother, Lucy Hughes Allen, earned her B.S. degree from Hampton Institute in 1906. The family pledged that no Holloway woman would ever be forced to work in a white man’s kitchen for lack of an education. She continued her pursuit of education and obtained her M.S. in educational supervision and administration in 1957, sharing the stage with classical singer Marian Anderson, who received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Rochester. She earned her EdD in education supervision and administration in 1969, also from the University of Rochester, New York. Alice would later receive an honorary doctorate from Bennett College, this time sharing the stage with acclaimed actor Phylicia Rashad. In 1944, Alice served with the Women’s Home Missionary Society at a migrant camp in Poolville, New York. She was appalled by the conditions under which the migrants, who were from Sanford, Fl., worked. “I was just 20 years old, but I saw what they wanted for their children and for themselves which is what I would have wanted for my children.” Young carried those experiences with her during her entire life and it was the impetus for her barrier breaking career in education. Young originally had planned to attend graduate school at Cornell University on a science scholarship, but her friend Ann Derr persuaded her to come with her to Rochester after her summer assignment with the migrant camp ended. Soon after moving there at a reception at St. Simon’s Episcopal church, she was introduced to a handsome widower with a small child. His name was James “Buddy” Young. They were married on August 11, 1946. In their early years they lived in a three-room apartment in his parents’ house on Reynolds Street. Joining stepson, James “Jimmy” Jr., came sons Rodney, Calvin and daughter Kathleen. In 1952, Alice became the third African American teacher in the Rochester City School District. In 1958 the Young family moved from Reynolds Street to Millbank Street in the 19th Ward. They moved into the house without ever having seen the inside. A white friend had to act as the prospective buyer for them to make the purchase. Once the neighbors realized that Black people were the new owners – a threatening letter signed from the Ku Klux Klan,” soon arrived. Alice and Buddy were pioneers in the housing arena at that time. During her 33-year career with the Rochester City School District she served as sixth grade substitute teacher at School #9, and a reading teacher at School #7. She served four years as vice-principal for instruction at School #19. She was the first African American principal in the Rochester City School District, assigned to School #24, where she served for three years. In 1961 Alice helped establish Monroe Community College, Rochester, NY and was named a trustee. She was also selected by the Rochester City school District to serve as the director for Title One, the program created by the U.S. Department of Education to distribute funding to schools and school districts with a high percentage of students from low-income families. She crafted various proposals and supervised the programs for the integration of Rochester public schools in 1965. Young wrote twenty-two programs under Title 1 that integrated students along racial and economic lines. Her most enduring and renown program is the Urban-Suburban Interdistrict Transfer Program. She returned to the district as principal of School #5 on Plymouth Avenue, from 1969-71. In 1971 she was promoted to the position of Administrative Director of Elementary Schools. In 1978 she was elected chair of the Monroe Community College board of directors. She served as board chair until 1998. As a tribute to her dedication, the Alice Holloway Young Teaching Internship for Ethnic Minority Graduate students at Monroe Community College was inaugurated in 1987. The internship program was designed to encourage talented individuals from underrepresented ethnic or racial groups to consider a career in community college education. The Alice Holloway Young Society for Charitable Giving of the MCC Foundation was also established to honor Dr. Young as a pioneer in education. MCC also named their first residence hall The Alice Holloway Young Commons. When Alice Holloway Young retired from the Rochester City School District in 1985, she and Buddy traveled the world, and spent many restful days on their property on Black Lake in the town of Hammond, St. Lawrence County, New York. Buddy passed away in 2008. Alice continued to attend MCC board meetings as chair, emerita. She was the longest serving trustee in the State University of New York, Alice remained active in the organizations she loved – Rochester Chapter of the Links, Inc, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Nu Omega Chapter; Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, Alpha Alpha Chapter. For many years, she worshiped and assumed lay leadership roles at both St. Simon’s Episcopal Church and St. Simon and St. Luke (Two Saints). In April of 2005 she joined the congregation of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Rochester, NY. In later years, she would often attend Asbury First Methodist Church with her daughter. Awards/Honors Liberty Medal (New York State Senate) Civic Award for Meritorious Contributions in the Field of Education (Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce) Distinguished Community Service Award (Urban League of Rochester) Anne M. Bushnell Memorial Award for Special Achievement (highest honor conferred by the State University of New York Association of the Boards of Trustees of Community Colleges) The Charles Force Hutchinson and Marjorie Smith Hutchison Medal (University of Rochester) In 2003 Monroe Community College named their first residence hall the Dr. Alice Holloway Young Commons. In 2021, the Rochester City School District renamed school Number 3 The Alice Holloway Young School of Excellence. Alice Holloway Young baked a great rum cake. When she traveled to North Carolina for a family reunion, we had to rent a van to accommodate the nine rum cakes that were her contribution to the repass. She departed this life on April 24, 2024, leaving sons Rodney, Calvin (Eileen), daughter Kathleen and granddaughters, Deanna Young, Lizette Young, scores of nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors. Dr. Alice Holloway Young’s favorite saying was borrowed from her late grandson, Peter James Young – it was something he would often say to her – “I love you no matter what.” On Saturday, June 1, 2024 from 11:30-12:00 noon, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Delta Nu Omega Chapter will perform their Ivy Beyond The Wall Service, at the Theater on the Brighton Campus of MCC (Bldg. 4). This will be followed by the Rochester Chapter of the Links, Inc. Performing their Memorial Service. At 1:00pm, the MCC ceremony will begin. A Memorial Service to Celebrate her life will be held 1:00 pm on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at Monroe Community College, 1000 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY. Interment at the convenience of the family.