FATHER PETER G. YOUNG, 90

Father Peter G. Young was just 29 years old and a newly ordained priest at St. John’s parish in the gritty South End of Albany in 1959 when he looked out on the bleak cityscape and asked, “What are the needs here?”

The needs were many. The area was rife with prostitution, gambling, drugs and alcohol and with scant police presence. It was an eye-opening experience for the tall, athletic priest and within months he had 150 men — most addicted to drugs or alcohol — sleeping on the gym floor of the parish’s closed school. Father Young would battle with addicts, literally, and found out most people wanted a better life but needed help clawing their way out of the downward spiral of addiction.

That year, he founded Peter Young Housing, Industries and Treatment (PYHIT). The goal was to help this population of people while trying to understand addiction and decriminalize the disease which many at the time thought was just a character flaw. Father Young probably could never have imagined on his journey that he would become a nationally-known leader in addiction recovery.

Father Young, who dedicated his life to helping the homeless, addicts and parolees, and a priest in the Diocese of Albany for 61 years, died Dec. 9 at age 90 at Albany Medical Center.

“We are saddened at the news of Father Young’s death. In faith, we rejoice that he goes to his Lord and ours, filled with gratitude for his priestly presence and with no small amount of joy for his life of service,” said Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger of the Diocese of Albany. “He changed and saved many lives through his work with those who struggle with addiction, and that is a legacy that will not be forgotten.”

His vision grew to help thousands daily across the state of New York with nearly 120 program sites including clinics, shelters and rehabilitation centers. The agencies and divisions employed 3,000 New Yorkers at one time. Father Young — after thousands of hours advocating at the State Capitol and with the support of then-New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller — helped change the public intoxication laws in the state. He is also credited with being the catalyst behind the start of what is now known as the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS); as well as the founder and first chairman of the New York State Council on Alcoholism and the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatment Program in the New York State Department of Corrections. All along the way, Father Young never took a salary beyond what he was paid as a parish priest.

“Even in his old age, Father Young was a regular presence in the NYS Capitol, where he was a master at advocating for funding for his programs,” said Dennis Poust, interim executive director and director of communications for the New York State Catholic Conference. “But beyond that, he never missed an opportunity to evangelize — to legislators, reporters, staffers or whoever crossed his path. And, like the good priest that he was, he did it subtly, not with preaching or proselytizing, but by his presence. He brought people closer to God, saving lives and saving souls. And that’s no small legacy.”

Father Young’s system of recovery was based on, what he called, the three-legged stool: treatment, housing and employment. “Providing housing for the addicted and parolees, with an emphasis on mercy, has been our priority,” he wrote in an Evangelist essay. This in turn created “taxpayers” — another key component of his work — out of the former addicts. Father Young was also a big proponent of the “wounded healer” philosophy in which those successfully recovered addicts would help fellow addicts on their road to recovery.

“I knew Father Peter personally and truly admired his compassionate leadership for the disadvantaged and those in trouble,” Siena President Dr. Chris Gibson said of his fellow alumnus. “A pioneer in substance abuse treatment, he never gave up on those he was helping, no matter their challenges. The world needs more Siena Saints like Father Peter. He is already sorely missed by many.”

In 2012, Father Young’s enterprises were struck by a financial scandal — a former officer was found guilty of stealing $200,000 which caused the nonprofit to lose millions in state contracts, close programs and housing across the state, lay off many employees and sell off property. Father Young was found to have nothing to do with the scandal and his legacy continues to live on.

Today, PYHIT is comprised of five non-profit agencies: The Altamont Program, Inc., The Vesta Community Housing Development Board, Inc., Peter Young Shelter Services, Inc., The Peter G. Foundation, Inc., and 820 River Street, Inc. — and provides services in 17 counties in the state from New York City to Buffalo.

Father Young was born in Albany on Aug. 4, 1930, and attended St. Teresa’s School in Albany and Christian Brothers Academy in Albany. He graduated from Siena College in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in economics, traveled with the Negro Baseball League and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. After a stint in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, in 1954, he attended St. Jerome’s College in Canada for one year and studied philosophy and then attended seminary at St. Bonaventure University. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Albany by Bishop William A. Scully on May 23, 1959.

He was assistant pastor at St. John’s Church in Albany from 1959-68, an instructor at Cardinal McCloskey High School from 1959-68, pastor at St. John’s from 1968-76 and pastor at Blessed Sacrament in Bolton Landing from 1976-1993. He was also a chaplain in the New York State Correctional Facility, specifically at Mt. McGregor Correctional Facility, for 15 years. After retiring from active ministry, Father Young served the Mother Teresa Community in Albany.

Father Young received numerous awards and accolades in his lifetime, including the Distinguished Public Service Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Service from the University at Albany and the Citizenship Award from the New York State Bar Association. Siena College awarded Father Young the Professor Egon Plager Medallion for Humanitarian Effort and an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters. His life and work were chronicled in the documentary “Glidepath to Recovery,” which first aired on PBS in 1999. In 2009, he was recognized by the New York State Senate for his 50 years in the priesthood and his work with substance abuse.

Father Young is predeceased by his parents, Eleanor and Peter G. Young Sr., and cousins William Balfe Sr., Rita Luibrand and Francis Balfe.  He is survived by his cousins, William J. Balfe (Isabelle), Kathleen Balfe, Timothy Balfe, Kevin Luibrand (Mary Grace), Mary Katherine Lamb (Craig Taylor), Peter Luibrand (Arlene), David Luibrand (Danielle), Judith Malm (Donald), Theresa Gallager (Douglas), Patrick Balfe and their children.

Due to COVID restrictions, services will be private and a celebration of his life will be held at a later date. In Father Young’s memory, contributions can be made to the Peter G. Young Foundation, 134 Franklin St., Albany, N.Y., 12202