Obituary: Black, Thomas Anthony
Age 64
He was 65.
Tom was born in Spokane on July 21, 1949 to Dr. John and Loretta Callahan Black.
He grew up on Spokane’s South Hill with seven siblings in a lively Irish-Catholic family.
After attending Gonzaga Preparatory High School, Tom graduated from Eastern Washington University with a degree in Communications.
He started his career in the Insurance industry with Safeco in 1977, followed by fifteen years at Moloney & O’Neill, where he eventually became partner.
In 1993, Tom founded Serenity Insurance with just one carrier and one agent.
Tom nurtured and grew his dream into a successful business employing 42 people.
Tom’s achievements with Serenity were among his proudest, and he was a beloved and generous employer.
Another great area of pride for Tom was his two daughters, Courtney Malone and Breehan Black, with his former wife, Cathy Ford.
Tom loved his daughters dearly, and was often their first phone call during both great achievements and times of tragedy.
He also extended his paternal love to those outside his immediate family.
He was considered a “second father” by many.
Tom married Helen Hargis in 2010, with whom he had planned to spend the remainder of his life.
Their love was obvious, and they shared many adventures during their years together, including travels to Ireland, Alaska, and Hawaii and winters in Palm Desert.
Tom and Helen had just recently remodeled a new home and were looking forward to creating many more memories there for years to come.
Tom touched the lives of those around him.
He was fondly known as “Blacky” to everyone he met.
He was always quick with a smile and a light-hearted joke.
He often couldn’t keep a straight face long enough to reach the punchline.
He was an avid golfer, who, especially during the last years of his life, was able to laugh at the range of emotions the game of golf could elicit.
Many of Tom’s best friendships were made and sustained on the courses of Hayden Lake, Spokane, and Manito Country Clubs.
He also loved to spend time at his cabin at Hayden Lake.
He was typically found swimming in the lake, driving the boat, reading mystery novels, playing cribbage, or completing a crossword puzzle in the sun.
Tom loved his community also and spent many years involved in giving back to it.
He was a founding member of Leadership Spokane, served many years on the Spokane Park Board, and founded an AA group, now 31 years in existence with seventy plus members.
He also served as President of the Spokane Country Club and most recently helped form the “Friends of Indian Canyon.”
Tom is survived by his wife, Helen; daughter Courtney and husband Sean Malone, daughter Breehan and husband Mark Catalinich; stepson D.J.
Brajcich and wife Julie Lum, stepson Andrew Brajcich and wife Alex; grandsons Reilly and Patrick Malone, and stepgranddaughters Jasmine and Mila Brajcich.
Tom also has six surviving siblings, Jim Black, Marcia Black-Gallucci, Jerry Black, Dick Black, Molly Black, and Kevin Black.
He is also survived by dozens of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers and sisters-in-law and friends wherever he went.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his oldest brother John.
A gathering and optional viewing will be held on Thursday, February 26th from 3-7 PM at Holy Cross Funeral Center Chapel, 7200 N. Wall St., Spokane.
Tom’s memorial service will be held Friday, February 27th at 1:00 PM at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 330 E. Boone, Spokane, followed by a reception at Manito Country Club.
In lieu of flowers, Tom’s family appreciates donations to three of his favorite charities: Women’s Hearth - www.help4women.org Meals on Wheels - www.gscmealsonwheels.org Salvation Army- www.salvationarmyusa.org/ Arrangements have been entrusted to: