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. Gloria Black was a
longtime educator; she graduated from Livingstone College with a Bach-
elor'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 Psychol-
ogy, specializing in college and crowd behavior, from the New School of
Social Research and she enjoyed a 37-year career as a teacher and coun-
selor in the New York City public school system before retiring in 1992;
and
WHEREAS, During her career, Dr. Gloria 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 a recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award in Nassau
County; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gloria Black was recently honored with the Congressional
Award of Honor for Community Service; she was presented with the York
College Alumni Award and the Mary McCloud Bethune Award; and
WHEREAS, While at Livingstone College, Dr. Gloria Black was initiated
in the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Xi Chapter in 1951; she was active
with the Sorority for over 50 years, a past recipient of its Leadership
Award, and at the time of her death, was a member of the Epsilon Pi
Omega Chapter; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gloria Black served as Chairperson of Community Board 12
in New York's borough of Queens; she served on the board for 25 years,
including the last five as chairperson; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gloria Black's advocacy extended to the community of
Jamaica; she spoke out on the need to revitalize downtown Jamaica and
was a champion for the City's veterans; and
WHEREAS, At the urging of Representative Gregory Meeks, Dr. Gloria
Black served on the Saint Albans Veterans Facility; in 2006, the facili-
ty and its medical care services were upgraded and modernized which is a
testimony to her hard work; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gloria Black also won acclaim for her civil rights activ-
ism, including her work with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil
rights giants; 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.