Juliana Young Koo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juliana Young Koo
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| Born |
Yen Yu-yün
September 26, 1905 Tientsin, China
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| Died | May 24, 2017 (aged 111 years, 240 days) Manhattan, New York, United States
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| Resting place | Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum | ||||||||
| Nationality | Republic of China | ||||||||
| Other names | Juliana Young Yen Koo | ||||||||
| Occupation | Diplomat | ||||||||
| Spouse(s) |
Clarence Kuangson Young
(m. 1929; died 1942) |
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| Children | Shirley Young, Genevieve Young, Frances Young | ||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 嚴幼韻 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 严幼韵 | ||||||||
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Juliana Young Koo, born Yen Yu-yun (Chinese: 嚴幼韻; pinyin: Yan Youyun; September 26, 1905 – May 24, 2017), was a Chinese-American diplomat. She worked in the United Nations Protocol Department. Her first husband, Chinese diplomat Clarence Kuangson Young, was killed by Japanese forces during World War II. After the war, she moved to the United States. She later married diplomat and politician V.K. Wellington Koo in 1959.
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Early Life and Education
Juliana Young Koo was born on September 26, 1905, in Tianjin, China. Her birth name was Yen Yu-yün (or Yan Youyun). She came from a very wealthy family with strong connections in business and government. Her father, Yan Zijun, and her grandfather, Yan Xinhou, were both important businessmen.
Juliana was one of the first women to graduate from Fudan University. While at university, she had a special car that would take her to campus and bring her home. The car's number was 84, and because of this, the male students at the university gave her the nickname "Miss 84."
Marriages and Diplomatic Work
Juliana married Clarence Kuangson Young (Chinese: 楊光泩; pinyin: Yáng Guāngshēng) on September 6, 1929. Clarence Young was a Chinese diplomat.
During the 1930s, Juliana Young Koo developed a close relationship with another Chinese diplomat, V.K. Wellington Koo (Chinese: 顧維鈞). Clarence Young was later transferred to work as the Chinese consul general in Manila from 1939 to 1942.
During World War II, Clarence Young was arrested by the Japanese. He was executed on April 17, 1942, along with seven other consulate staff members.
After her husband's death, Juliana took her three daughters and moved to the United States. V.K. Wellington Koo helped her get a job at the United Nations in New York. In September 1959, she married V.K. Wellington Koo.
Her Daughters
Juliana Young Koo had three daughters with her first husband, Clarence Young: Genevieve, Shirley, and Frances.
Genevieve Young
Genevieve Young (1930-2020) became a well-known book editor. She was famous for editing the popular novel Love Story by Erich Segal. She was married twice, but both marriages ended in divorce. She remained close friends with her second husband, Gordon Parks, until his death. Genevieve helped create the Gordon Parks Foundation and continued to manage it until she passed away in February 2020.
Shirley Young
Shirley Young (1935-2020) was a very successful business executive. She worked for major companies like Grey Advertising and General Motors. Shirley was also married twice, and both marriages ended in divorce. She passed away in December 2020 and was survived by her three sons and seven grandchildren.
Frances Young
Frances Young (1940-1992) was known for her work as a philanthropist and preservationist. This means she helped people and worked to protect important historical places or things. She was married to Oscar Tang. In 2000, Oscar Tang donated a large amount of money to create the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College, which was Frances's alma mater (the college she attended). A gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is also named in her honor.
Autobiography and Longevity
In 2015, Juliana Young Koo released her autobiography, a book about her own life, titled 109 Springtimes: My Story. On September 26, 2015, she reached the age of 110 years, becoming a supercentenarian (someone who lives to be 110 or older).
Juliana shared some interesting tips for her long life. She said her secret was eating foods like foie gras, beef, pork belly, and "as much butter as you like." She also joked that she advised against exercise and vegetables! She also suggested playing mahjong regularly, a game she enjoyed.
Later Life and Passing
Juliana Young Koo passed away on May 24, 2017, in Manhattan, New York City. She was 111 years and 240 days old.
