Dr. Maxine L. Young

Maxine L. Young died on Tuesday, December 26, 2023, after a lengthy, but valiant battle with Parkinson’s. She was 81. An only child, she was born January 17, 1942 to the late Charles Frederick and Dorothy (Grooms) Loucks, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

After graduating Pine-Richland High School, in Gibsonia, PA, Maxine spent time at Mansfield State College, studying music, one of her first passions. That was only the beginning of her educational journey. While she was working at AW Beattie Technical School, in Allison Park, PA, she met Edward J. Young, an instructor. Neither one had completed their first run at a four-year degree, so when they fell in love in the early 1970’s and married, their plan was to support each other’s educational pursuits while raising their 6 year old daughter. Shortly after they married and moved to Allison Park, with daughter Margaret, Maxine entered Carlow College and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology.

In 1976, Maxine and her family moved to Philadelphia, PA, so that she could attend Hahnemann University where she earned Master’s degrees in Audiology and Speech Pathology. Her life’s work was spent helping people in both fields, but her true passion was audiology and specifically helping children with learning disabilities and auditory processing deficits. She studied the brain and became an expert at the neurophysiology behind learning. She helped develop programs that impacted children’s success in the classroom and beyond. Working with learning professionals in San Francisco and the other areas of the country, Maxine implemented techniques that brought a very specialized expertise to her practice. Parents from far outside our local area sought her services and many traveled hours with their children to see her.

In the early 2000’s, Maxine had an opportunity to teach students in the Doctor of Audiology (AuD) program at Salus University, (formerly Pennsylvania College of Optometry). It was during her time as an instructor that she herself became a doctoral candidate at Salus and earned her AuD in May of 2012. At 70, she added *doctor* to her title and spent several more years helping patients and advising young professionals, who hoped to make a difference in the field she loved.

When Maxine wasn’t in her office she enjoyed gardening, music, art and traveling with her daughter. They traveled frequently, were particularly fond of exploring the southwest area of the country and made several memorable trips to Sanibel Island, Florida. Maxine loved the shelling in Sanibel and could be spotted combing the shoreline for treasures at sunset.

Another love of Maxine’s was serving on the diaconate board of Tenth Presbyterian Church, in center city, Philadelphia. She and her family attended the church from 2001 until she could no longer drive into the city in the last several years, but she maintained close ties to many church members until the Lord called her Home. The Christmas Eve service at Tenth was something she dearly loved and was one of the last things she listened to in her final days.

Maxine is survived by her daughter, Margaret L. Young of Ardmore, PA, and some very dear friends. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Edward J. Young.

Services are as follows:

Wednesday, January 10, 2023:

Respects may be paid from 10:30-11:30, followed by a short service and burial, at Arlington Cemetery, 2900 State Road, Drexel Hill, PA, on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

A memorial service and celebration honoring her life will be held at Tenth Presbyterian Church, 1701 Delancey Street, Philadelphia, at a date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of the following organizations:

Sola Media, 13230 Evening Creek Drive S, Suite 220-222, San Diego, CA 92128

Prison Fellowship (& Angel Tree), P.O. Box 1550, Merrifield, VA 22116

Pennsylvania SPCA, 350 East Erie Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19134

All are 501(c)(3) nonprofits.