In more recent years he was involved in some large-scale productions such as Les Miserables and Miss Saigon.
Mr Young's partner, John Knipe, said Mr Young was still working up until the last few days before his death.
"Robert's first priority was the youth and he loved working with his students at his summer school on the Gold Coast.
"He was at [Rotorua] Boys' High last week working."
Mr Knipe said in the past few months he had received hundreds of letters from former students who had followed their acting dreams around the world, from Broadway to the West End.
"He hardly believed how many lives he had touched.
"He would do anything for anyone and was always giving to somebody," Mr Knipe said.
Even though Mr Young's health had deteriorated badly in the past two weeks he was working on the score and script for his next production of the musical Aida, Mr Knipe said.
"He didn't want to let the school down."
Close friend Lyall Thurston said his friend first came to Rotorua in the early'70s to choreograph the operatic society's production of Can Can.
"He was also a very committed Catholic and had a long association with John Paul College. This began in the'80s with his production of Oliver and was the start of a long string of major theatrical productions.
"He was very much part of our family, as was his partner John. He is a huge loss for musical theatre and the performing arts in Australasia.
His production of Les Miserables is still spoken about."
In an interview he did with journalist Jill Nicholas for the Rotorua Daily Post in August, Mr Young said he wanted people to know about his cancer in the hope others would get themselves tested regularly, especially those with a family history of cancer.
His funeral will be held at St Mary's Church on Ranolf St from 1pm Saturday. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Matthew Martin
