The Youngs St. Boys

A loving tribute to parents lost, life lessons learned and to growing up on a very special street in Stratford

- Tom Kydd

In 1978, eight teenage boys (Rob Appel, Gord Evans, Rick Gottschalk, Harry Grunenberg, Mike Johnson, Tom Macdonald, John Wakon and me) began a tradition that has continued over the past 42 years—and counting. It involves a yearly get-together where the “boys” meet to celebrate life’s events, play golf and appreciate friendships that have bonded them together for close to 60 years. The golf tournament is an event that is marked on the calendar first, and other events are planned around it.

We met as young kids growing up on Youngs Street in Stratford, Ont., and formed strong friendships that have seen us through life’s journey of school, marriages, careers, children, grandchildren, retirements and sadly, family losses. It was one such sad loss that solidified the tradition that continues today.