Dr. Frank E. Young, 80, looks jovial and eager as he approaches his leather chair with a warm smile, wearing over-sized bifocals and carrying a paperback.

The book he holds is one he himself wrote. “Good Grief: Love’s Final Gift," was published in the summer of 2011. The watercolor painting of a couple joined by a cross is the first image in the book, along with family photos of the Young family.

“After the loss of my wife, Leanne, I felt it was necessary to share our story with everyone,” said Young. “It’s not just a love story. I wrote it for everyone who has suddenly become single and who (is) struggling with the irreversible loss of a loved one.”

“Good Grief” is a novel about the marriage between a man, whose dream was to help people, and the love of his life. It encompasses his engaged and successful life as well as mechanisms to cope with the death of a loved one.

The beginning chapters of the book describe the first time they met and the “golden years,” as Young likes to describe their first years of marriage.

“The golden years were the five years we spent in the West," Young related. "We were able to purchase a nice four-bedroom ranch-style home in La Jolla, California. We were starting a family and I started teaching Sunday school. It felt as though everything was falling into place.”

Shortly after, Young became a father of five children and his career was taking off. The next few chapters of the book describe his work life.

“I’ve always been really passionate about my career; however, at this point in my life I felt like my relationship with my family and God was most important. I didn’t know what else to do but pray,” Young said. “In fact, I never made a decision about my career without praying and talking to God. Every major career choice or pathway was a decision I made with Him.”

In 1984, he was sworn-in as U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner by Secretary of Health and Human Services Margaret Heckler. According to the FDA website, Young presided over "several major agency events." Among these were "the approval of the first drug to combat AIDS, zidovudine (AZT) (1987); instituting a fast track approval system for AIDS drugs (1988); and presiding over the generic drug crisis (1989)."

He was also inducted in the Navy in the public health service.

“I served 20 years in the Navy and five years in the FDA. Both jobs benefited me to form a sense of self-satisfaction. I knew, no matter what, I was helping people and that’s what I long to do for the rest of my life — another reason I wrote the book.”

Not only was Young a great father and world-renowned hero; he was also a nationally ranked scientist.

“I knew right after high school (that) science was my passion. My family came from nothing so it was important to myself and my family to get a good education and pursue something I’m passionate about.”

Young received his master’s degree from New York State University in 1956 and his Ph. D. in microbiology from Case Western Reserve University.

“My most memorable moment was when I was working at Memorial Hospital, the place where Leanne and I met. It’s at that place and that moment that I remember the start of the rest of my life.”

Margaret, Young’s middle child, remembers her days spent with her mother and father.

“My dad was so consumed with work, in a good way though. He always made sure he would be home by six o’clock for dinner, and if he was ever late he’d make sure he made a point to ask every one of us (children) about our day.”

Young is currently retired and resides in Washington D.C . He is the pastor and small group leader of his church every Sunday. Young frequently shares his story with anyone interested, and reminds them that nobody is alone in the grieving process.