LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Dr. Gloria Ruby Mae Black,
distinguished citizen and devoted member of her community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gloria Black of Queens, New York, died on Saturday, March
1, 2008, at the age of 76; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gloria Black distinguished herself in her profession and
by her sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the welfare of
her community; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gloria Black's commitment to excellence, and her spirit
of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, including char-
itable and civic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit, imbued with a sense of
compassion, and comforted by a loving family, Dr. Gloria Black leaves
behind a legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will
remain as a comforting memory to all she served and befriended; and
WHEREAS, Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Dr. Black was a longtime
educator and chairperson of Community Board 12 in the neighborhood of
Jamaica in New York's borough of Queens; she served on the board for 25
years, including the last five as chairperson; all totaled, she enjoyed
a 37-year career as a teacher and counselor in the New York City public
school system before retiring in 1992; and
WHEREAS, During her career, Dr. Black won numerous awards for her
commitment to education; she was honored for her outstanding service to
the Middle States Evaluation Committee for Secondary Schools and
Colleges, and was presented with the York College Alumni Award and the
Mary McCloud Bethune Award; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Black was a recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award in
Nassau County and was recently honored with the Congressional Award of
Honor for Community Service; she also won acclaim for her civil rights
activism, including her work with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other
civil rights giants; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Black's advocacy extended to the community of Jamaica;
she spoke out on the need to revitalize the downtown area and was a
champion for the City's veterans; and
WHEREAS, At the urging of Rep. Gregory Meeks, Dr. Black served on the
Saint Albans Veterans Facility; in 2006, the facility and its medical
care services were upgraded and modernized which is a testimony to her
hard work; and
WHEREAS, A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and a past recipient
of its Leadership Award, Gloria Black graduated from Livingstone College
with a Bachelor's degree in History and Sociology and also earned a
Master's degree in Social Work from Columbia University; she later
earned her second Master's degree from New York University and a Ph.D.
in Social Psychology, specializing in college and crowd behavior, from
the New School of Social Research; and
WHEREAS, While at Livingstone, Gloria Black was initiated in the
Sorority's Alpha Xi Chapter in 1951; she was active with the Sorority
for over 50 years and, at the time of her death, was a member of the
Epsilon Pi Omega Chapter; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gloria Black is survived by her two daughters, Antonee
and Jehanne, and her two grandsons, Brehon and Brandon; now, therefore,
be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Dr. Gloria Ruby Mae Black, distinguished citizen and
devoted member of her community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Dr. Gloria Ruby Mae Black.