Deceased September 3, 2015
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Remembrance From Amherst Magazine---
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When we think of Dorn, we see him with a trombone. Dorn Walker Younger died on September 3, 2015, after a courageous struggle with ALS. In 1958 only a few freshmen from our class played jazz, and they found each other quickly. Dorn hooked up with Dave Lahm, David Nichols, Art Heller, and Bryant Robey. He auditioned successfully for The Sixteen, the extracurricular jazz band that rehearsed Mondays in the old College Hall. Dick Klein (' 61) formed a quartet with Lahm, Robey, and Younger which landed some " professional " gigs, including a Smith College mixer. After sophomore year, Dorn transferred to DePauw University, earning a B.A. in Music Theory and Composition, followed by a Master's in Music at University of Redlands, CA. He achieved career success as regional sales representative for musical instruments, while at the same time playing trombone and piano, conducting, and composing/arranging. He was an active member of Simsbury (CT) Methodist Church. He was married for 53 years to Patricia; they had two daughters: Karen (Morrison) and Kristin, and two grandsons. In later years, Dorn occasionally played again with Dick Klein, who found him in a Dixieland band in Saratoga, NY. . A Williams classmate of the band's leader had a private club in Bermuda, and the band (augmented by Klein on drums) played Christmas and New Year's for two seasons; they also played at a couple of Amherst reunions. Dave Lahm recalls a sleepover at Dorn's Connecticut house sometime in the 80's when he and Judy were returning from an Amherst reunion. Dorn was very happy with his marriage, family, and career. The world of music and his classmates from Amherst '62 will miss Dorn Younger.
Larry Beck |