Robert B. Young Jr.

Robert (Bo) Barnes Young, Jr. passed away unexpectedly on January 6th at his home in Alexandria, Virginia at the age of 71.

Bo attended the University of Maryland before completing his business administration studies at American University. Prior to college, Bo attended the Maret School (Class of 1968) where he had his most fond memories in school. He found the experience to be the most enriching, growing, and rewarding period of his life due to the exceptional teachings and lifetime friendships. Bo eventually joined the Army National Guard before getting married and starting a family in the 1970’s.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Bo was a successful real estate developer and home builder in the Northern Virginia, Maryland, and District of Columbia area for over 40 years. He spent the last 25 years as an independent consultant for Pomeroy Company, LLC in Fairfax after departing as President of Miller and Smith Homes, Inc, a subsidiary of the Miller and Smith Companies located in McLean, Virginia. Aside from Bo’s love for real estate, he spent a lifetime active in the community and in local politics as a fundraiser, supporter, and eventually a candidate himself. In 1994, Bo was appointed by Governor George Allen to the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) where he served as Co-Chairman of the Planning Committee. During Bo’s tenure, the MWAA approved plans to expand the two major Washington area airports to meet the needs of the community and travelers visiting the nation’s capital in the 21st century. While appointed, he championed a significant name change for National Airport, resulting in Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport becoming official in 1998. For three consecutive years (1995-1997), Bo was named in Loudoun County’s five “most powerful people” for his work and volunteering in the local area. His extensive real estate development expertise was noted when appointed to serve on the Virginia’s Governor’s Regional Economic Development Commission and Virginia Military Base Retention Commission in the mid-1990s. Bo also served on the Board of the Loudoun Healthcare Foundation for several years in the 1990s and 2000s, supporting the expansion and development of healthcare for residents in Loudoun County. As if Bo wasn’t engaged in the community enough, he served on numerous business and civic boards in Northern Virginia throughout his career.

Outside of his career and volunteer work, Bo was a loyal Washington Nationals fan and has been a joint-season ticket holder since the team arrived in Washington, District of Columbia in 2005. He loved going to games with his son, best friend, and other close friends, but what made him ecstatic recently was when the Nationals clinched their first World Series Championship in 2019. Bo supported the Washington Capitals and Wizards, and even tried to save some energy for the “deflated” Washington Football Team (WFT) – he usually had some other colorful words for the WFT. In addition to professional sports, Bo had an interest in the University of Virginia’s basketball team and thoroughly enjoyed the new college football championship game structure implemented a few years ago.

With most things in Bo’s life, he had an opinion that usually turned into a debate, sometimes healthy and sometimes colorful. If you were lucky enough to be on the receiving end of one of those debates, whether it be him debating the Nationals bullpen issues, the WFT coaching staff (or owner), a newspaper or magazine article, or politics, you know that he was forever passionate in his beliefs. When Bo wasn’t attending a local game, befriending the neighborhood kids, writing letters to companies that he felt cheated him out of a few dollars, working hard at the office, or doing home improvements, he regularly found himself on trips with family and friends around the globe. This included, but not limited to, spending a couple weeks each summer at Pohogonot Farm on Martha’s Vineyard, annual trips to New York City during Christmas, many trips to Europe, visits to Canada, and a recent first time trip to Africa and Dubai. Bo once discussed sailing the world if he ever hit the lottery, that’s how much he loved to travel and sightsee.

In recent years, Bo focused on living a healthier lifestyle and the first thing he did was quit smoking after smoking for most of his life. He picked up biking and became an avid walker throughout Old Town Alexandria, always ensuring he met his 10,000 steps a day. No matter where he was or what he was doing, Bo always made a point to stop and enjoy the scenery, especially unique flowers, landscaping, and his favorite, architecture in Old Town Alexandria and cities with rich histories.

Bo is preceded in death by his mother, Barbara J. Fellows, father, Robert B. Young, and is survived by his son: Robert B. Young, III; two sisters: Judy Y. Flynn and Nancy Y. Gilpin; four nieces and nephews: Jeffrey Y. Flynn, Catherine F. Daume, Curtis F. Flynn, Cynthia F. Stowell; and six great-nieces and great-nephews.

A celebration of life will be held this spring for Bo’s family and friends at the historic Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia where he routinely attended services, followed by a private burial this summer in New England.