07/07/2026
Remembering Joe Young
Joseph Young is quite simply the man who saved the New Orleans Opera in the wake of the oil crash of the early 1980s and again when NOOA faced a major crossroads in its mission in the years after Hurricane Katrina. Named the first Board Member Emeritus of the New Orleans Opera Association in recognition of his extraordinary service, Joe’s death leaves a legacy that cannot be understated.
For several periods over the long tenure of his leadership as President of the New Orleans Opera Association, Joe almost acted as Executive Director as well as President, single-handedly managing fundraising, outreach, and much of the non-staged administration of the organization. As he explained in a 2024 interview, “Back in 1986, the Opera had one staffer. Everything was hired for every production, and the president was responsible for all the fundraising and promotion. If there was a deficit, he had to cover it. I didn’t have those kinds of resources, so I had to get very creative. Every time we needed money, I created a club.”
Many of NOOA’s donor organizations from the Mastersigners to the Opera Club were innovations that Joe Young envisioned and implemented. As one of his closest friends and longtime Opera supporter Bill Coe explained, “By sheer will of his personality, he made the “men’s club” of the Opera a great success, providing a great source of (new association) membership for Opera enthusiasts.”
There was a reason why people responded to Joe Young, Coe explained. “He was incredibly loyal to his friends. He was always looking for the good things in people, and he was always trying to make the people around him better people. He would get involved in various civic activities with the goal of improving whatever organization he was working with. He wanted to get people involved, and he would never join any effort to highlight himself. He would always think of the good of the organization, never needing any recognition.”
New Orleans Opera Association President Jay Gulotta remembered, “Joe had a gift for relationships. For an organization like the Opera, his ability to attract friends and supporters was itself a gift. It was a force multiplier that extended beyond his personal generosity—which itself was extraordinary. Joe is irreplaceable. He will be missed by all who knew him.”
As NOOA Past President Dwayne Littauer noted, “I’m saddened to learn of Joe Young’s passing. He was a long-time board member, generous donor, and consummate gentleman. His leadership as President of the New Orleans Opera set a high standard for all future presidents. He was one of the very few board members to be recognized with emeritus status. We will greatly miss him.”
“I join my friends and colleagues in New Orleans in mourning the passing of Joe Young," said Clare Burovac, former General and Artistic Director of New Orleans Opera. "Joe's leadership as a former Board President and his vision in creating the Mastersigners giving circle were instrumental in building the financial foundation that has sustained New Orleans Opera for decades. His dedication and generosity helped make possible the extraordinary artistry the company has brought to audiences for more than fifty years. His legacy will continue to be felt for generations to come."
Joseph Young was predeceased in death by his wife, Dr. Aysen Young, a talented artist and with her husband, and invaluable patron of the New Orleans Opera Association as well as the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Orleans Museum of Art, amongst many other local groups. Their joint community leadership was formally recognized in 2013 with a major tribute event titled "One Enchanted Evening".
Please feel free to share your memories of Joe Young in the comments below.
