Herbert A. Black II ’53 died on July 16, 2017, in Natick, Massachusetts.
(The following was published online at obits.dignitymemorial.com, July 2017:)
Herbert A. (“Herb”) Black II of Natick and Dennisport, Massachusetts, passed away July 16, 2017, after a long life well-lived. He was born on Friday the 13th, December 1929, in Boston to Caroline Elizabeth Stewart Black, and George Lawrence Black.
He is survived by his loving wife Carol A. Black, children James Black (Mary), H. Allen Black III (Kay), Bruce Black, Robert Black, Nancy Blume (Andy), and Robin Byrne (Gerry); and by his grandchildren Peter, Allen, K.C., Emily, Abigail, Keianna, Jerry, and Lacy, and his brother William Black. He was preceded in passing by his first wife Norma Black, brother Stewart Black, and cousin Margery Cleverdon.
He was proud of having been born into an ancient Massachusetts family, with roots reaching back to Stephen Hopkins of the Mayflower. He attended Newton High School and later Hebron Academy, and graduated from Bowdoin College in 1953. He was commissioned into the U.S. Army during the Korean War and attained the rank of Captain. He later graduated from Boston University Law School, and entered private law practice in Natick, Mass. He was an active member of Kiwanis International for virtually all of his professional life, and served in many leadership roles, culminating as Governor of the New England District of Kiwanis from 1979-80. He later served as a Director of the New England Kiwanis Foundation, where he was a leading figure in the Foundation’s work in connection with the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute at Tufts Medical Center. In Natick, he served in many community organizations, including the Natick Town Meeting, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Natick Masonic Temple, and St. Paul’s Episcopalian Church. He was also for several years a go-to comic-opera singer with the annual Women’s Club show.
He loved Cape Cod and retired to Dennisport. He was a member of the West Dennis Yacht Club and served in many roles, including Commodore. He was an enthusiastic, if unpracticed, weekend Beetle Cat racer with a record of penultimate finishes. He built many warm and lasting friendships throughout his life, with a gruff, lawyerly exterior that quickly gave way to a lively, often boisterous, and keen sense of humor. He was a caring and actively involved civic member who made enthusiastic contributions to his community and every group in which he participated.