William Tanner Young

William "Tanner" Young

Tanner was born at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna, Ohio on June 7, 1986 and passed away at the Hospice of the Western Reserve in Medina, Ohio on December 11, 2024.

 Even in his early years Tanner viewed the world around him differently as evidenced by asking 'why not' instead of 'why' and always looking for new and different ways to do things (e.g., along with a friend, pulling a trampoline close to the house so they could bounce higher by jumping onto it from the roof). As he grew up Tanner demonstrated a strong athletic ability, especially as a soccer goalie which he played in a very physical style. This led to both team and league honors during his Junior and Senior years at Southeast High School, for which he started in goal all four years.

It was in high school that he also developed an interest in self-expression through the arts, especially in photography and playing drums in a punk rock band. This self-expression was often presented in a free spirited, outside the box approach to established norms as evidenced by experimentation with hair color (much to the consternation of school administration).

His interest in the arts and photography led him to pursue a BFA degree in photography from The University of Akron. During his time at UA, Tanner was often found late at night in the photo lab which, since he was a commuter student, was jokingly referred to as his 'dorm' room. As part of his experience at UA he was selected to go on trips to NYC, Miami, and Venice, Italy to experience the world-renowned arts presented in those locations. Even at this early stage in his career, his passion for photographing people was evident. In one of his student exhibitions, An Excerpt of Various Photographs Strewn About the Room, Tanner wrote that he was "exploring the struggle of his generation as they grow into the people they will be, in the world they are given." For this and other work, he received various awards and recognition, graduating magna cum laude.

After graduating, Tanner moved to Chicago to pursue a career in the arts.

His professional positions with photography and the arts included digital marketing, event production, graphic design, commercial photography, gallery curation, art administration, web design, and studio managing in various paid and unpaid settings. To supplement income, he also worked a variety of parttime jobs ranging from restaurant work to bike courier services (one memorable courier moment was deciding to deliver meals in blizzard conditions one Super Bowl night which brought in A LOT of tip money).

 In 2017, Tanner returned to Ohio to complete coursework at his alma mater towards an MA in Arts Administration, with a focus on non-profit organizations. He hoped to promote creativity, curiosity, and compassion in his hometown community through the arts. During this time, he continued to work on new photography projects, such as Niceness is Priceless, which aimed to raise awareness on the subject of youth bullying. The images he left behind for clients, friends, and family can be found across Northeast Ohio, on websites, walls, and in the memories of those that he worked with. His many friends knew him for his humor (he loved pranking people with fireworks, making up bad dad jokes, and morning rewatches of recorded late night talk shows) as well as an intense dedication to his guiding principles. In the last few years, he found healing, calming, and strength through his involvement in and practice of Tai Chi.

 Tanner was a creative, artistic person with a big, beautiful, fierce, and sometimes troublesome spirit. All of which meant that he understood deeply the difficulties of being human. He pondered and often made jokes about the big questions around the meaning of life and reality. His beautiful spirit persisted despite the challenges of modern life. He knew how hard it was to navigate the complexities of this world. He loved everyone and wasn't afraid to show it. Which also meant he wasn't afraid to express his frustration with the goons who run the world - the ones who make being a free spirit like Tanner difficult. His creative nature pushed him to explore the limits.

 Sadly, his body could not keep up. He can be remembered always as the graffiti artiste.... wild, free, and full of humor. A lover of so many things and a seeker of truth. His heart was as big as the world, the world just wasn't big enough for his heart. A final wish for Tanner could be that the whole starry night sky becomes his imagined, yet to be art room. His final message could be taken from the acknowledgements he wrote for his senior exhibition at Akron:

 To all my friends, who have listened to my ideas and told me yours, thank you. Your conversations, friendship, and creativeness have inspired me, shaped me, and helped me through the worst times, and given me some of the best. You mean more to me than I could ever say.

He is survived by his parents, Mary and Bo, brother Tyler, and beloved cat, Lily; along many aunts, uncles, and cousins in Ohio and across the States.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in his memory to the University of Akron Myers School of Art, designate for the trip to New York City, or Hospice of the Western Reserve in Medina.

 A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 10:00AM at University Parish Newman Center, 1424 Horning Road, Kent, Ohio, with the Rev. Fr. William Wainio as Celebrant. Calling hours will be Friday, January 3, 2025 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Bissler and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 W. Main St., Kent, Ohio. Cremation has taken place and a family eco-friendly burial will be held in Maine in the Summer.

 Services in care by Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 W. Main St., Kent, Ohio 44240.