Bob Black Makes a Lasting Impression on Cornell
by Stephen Pittman, News Co-Editor
Photo by Cornell College
On Jan. 13, 2012, Emeritus Professor of Biology and Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach Robert W. Black passed away from complications of ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) at the age of 61. Black served Cornell College from September of 1987 to 2010 and was made an emeritus professor at the commencement ceremony in 2011. During his time at Cornell, Black spearheaded three long-term biology studies (one being on raptor migration) with two of those still being continued today.
Black graduated from Washington High School in 1967, finished with a B.A. in Biology in 1971 from Lawrence University in Wisconsin and graduated with a Ph.D. in Ecology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1980. He and his wife Susan Peterson were married for 25 years, and they have two daughters, Carmen and Maja Black.
On the Cornell blog reporting on Black’s passing, there was an outpouring of emotions from faculty, students and alumni alike honoring Black and discussing not only the influence he brought to campus but the influence he had on their lives as well.
Alumnus Brian Dooley (07) posted, “Bob was a great mentor and advisor. He provided thoughtful guidance along my road to completing a Biology major, and took special care to pay attention to my needs to ensure that I was successful as possible. Unfortunately, I am unable to attend either service, but my thoughts and prayers lie with Bob and his family. I sincerely appreciate all the time and effort Bob put into accepting me as a student and supporting my needs, while still allowing me to grow with my own ambitions.”
Diane Crowder, professor of French, posted, “Bob was a great member of the Cornell family. His gentle manner hid a fervent belief in feminism, in anti-racism, in advancing his students’ successes. I will miss his kindness, his integrity, his passion for his work. The Biology department was built in part on his dedication and his caring for his students. This death, along with that of Mark Hunter’s, is a great loss to us all.”
One student, Christine Nyugen (13) posted, “Bob Black was one of the most inspirational people that I’ve ever known. He was a deeply compassionate person and the genuine sense of love he had for all aspects of his life was something that I truly admired. Bob taught me so great many things, not only about biology, but also about life and the pursuit. I feel very lucky to have known him, and will never forget how much of positive impact he had on my life and those of others. He was a great spirit and will be dearly missed.”
Professor of Psychology Sue Astley also posted, “Bob lived his life to the fullest in all areas of his life, and saw connections that many of the rest of us miss. His cookbook is a testament to how interrelated the aspects of his life were — with pictures of his family, students, the outdoors, food. Bob didn’t put his life in separate boxes, and lived it passionately and thoughtfully. I learned much from him, and though I haven’t seen him much in recent years, will miss his warmth and generosity.”
Men’s Basketball Head Coach Chad Murray was another member of the Cornell community who was affected by the loss. Coach Murray said, “I only got a chance to work with Bob for a few months during my first season at Cornell, but was extremely impressed with his admiration for the players. You could tell he loved them unconditionally and his only goal was to help them be successful.”
On Jan. 22, a memorial service was held in Black’s honor in King Chapel with Chaplain Catherine Quehl-Engel officiating. She had many words to say about Black and the tremendous impact he made on Cornell. Other speakers included friends of Black: Ed Timm, alum Andy Bauch (99), as well as one of Black’s nephews, Bryan Stroh. All three reflected upon the life of Black, and each contributed several life lessons that Black taught them that they would never forget. After the speakers, alum Jamie Wallace Smith (05) read the poem Body Blows, written by alum and friend of Black, Chris LaLonde (81).
Following the speakers, a slide show was shown accompanied by music of Black’s own choosing. The music was especially poignant, as these songs were picked by Black in reflection of important ideals and aspects of his life. Chaplain Quehl-Engel gave the closing comments followed by a reception in Cole Library among Black’s memorabilia.
In addition to the outpouring of responses on the blog, the citation from the 2011 Commencement when Black was made an emeritus professor is mentioned. The citation states, “For 23 years, you have been a mentor, a coach, and a valued friend to students, advisees, and fellow faculty; in the field, on the court, in the classroom, and in your office chair. While being an exemplary family man and navigating the demands of a career that saw you contribute meaningfully to every aspect of the life of the college, you always managed to keep your students near the top of your list of priorities. Your caring, encouraging, and enthusiastic nature has made you a lifelong friend, not only to your colleagues, but to a plethora of students who have continued to make you a part of their lives long after they left the Hilltop.”
Black left a mark on Cornell that will never be erased. Black was able to bring and point out the best in others, even when people were unable to do it themselves. In the memorial service, a note from Black states, “One of the greatest things about being human is that each person has a unique set of values, priorities, secrets and opinions.”
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cornell College Wilderness Team or to the MDA-ALS Division.