Furniture Designer Cliff Young Passes

Furniture World Magazine

Cliff Young President and founder of one of the largest contemporary furniture showrooms in New York City, Cliff Young. Ltd. recently passed away. His presence and talent were a driving force in the New York metropolitan design community and enabled him to be at the forefront of American contemporary furniture design for almost half a century. Growing up on Manhattan's Lower East Side, Cliff was interested in the arts. After serving in Korea, Cliff was eager to return to the furniture industry and begin designing. He enrolled in classes at the Art Career Institute, specializing in Industrial Design, and worked as a furniture salesman in order to pay for his education. Jack L. Block, the President of Carlton House-Peck & Hills took notice of Cliff's dedication and talent and gave him his first big opportunity, designing casegoods for Red Lion Furniture. Cliff wanted a place where his ideas and designs could take shape without compromise and in 1970 opened Cliff Young, Ltd. He continued to expand and relocated to the New York Design Center where he currently showcases 8000 square feet of sophisticated contemporary designs. He was an active member of the American Society of Furniture Designers and an avid supporter of the greater New York Home Furniture Association. Perhaps his most important contribution was his dedication to furthering the education of young designers. He served as a teacher at the Jiranek School of Design and often hosted luncheons and lectures for students from Pratt, F.I.T, The New York School of Interior Design and Parsons as well as offered guidance to members of the industry. Cliff also volunteered time helping individuals suffering from alcohol and substance abuse. In 1995, Cliff Young was honored by the Greater New York Home Furniture Association as the "Furniture Man of the Year".