Gary Black Jr., longtime CEO and managing partner of Ski Racing, dies at age 75

Gary Black Jr., longtime publisher and CEO of Ski Racing International, died peacefully in his home at age 75 on Saturday on a bluebird day in Sun Valley, Idaho, surrounded by his family and his dogs.

Black was born on August 2, 1941 to Catharine Bond Jackson and Gary Black Sr., in Baltimore, Md.

He grew up in Baltimore, attending the Calvert and Gilman schools. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where he was a proud member of St A’s fraternity and served in the National Guard.

In keeping with family legacy, he began his professional career at an early age with the Baltimore Sun which had been purchased by his grandfather, Van Lear Black, in 1915. He worked every facet of the newspaper under the tutelage of his father, Gary Sr., who was chairman of the board from 1956 to 1984 of the A.S. Abell Company, publisher of the Baltimore Sun. GB Jr., as he was called, began in the newsroom following the crime beat, then continued onto sales and finally was instrumental in developing the marketing department. While at the paper, Black served on the board of the Abell Foundation founded by his great uncle, Harry C. Black. He also served on the board of the Maryland Historical Society and the Bryn Mawr School. He left the paper in 1984 to pursue his true  passion.

A lifetime skier and avid outdoorsman, Black was on the National Ski Patrol at several resorts: Oregon Ridge, Md.; Wisp, Md.; Squaw Valley, Calif.; and Portillo, Chile.  He was also a member of Ski Club Arlberg for 40 years.

Black purchased a small publication called Ski Racing magazine following the 1984 Olympic season. He relocated to Waitsfield, Vt., and began his career as the premier voice of snow sport competition. Black’s passion for the sport of alpine racing carried him through more than two decades and several iterations of the magazine, which now operates digitally as SkiRacing.com.

During his time in Vermont, Black served on the board of the African Wildlife Foundation, the University of Vermont’s School of Natural Resources and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Foundation.

In 1995 Black moved to Sun Valley, Idaho, where he continued to champion snow sport competition and became a voice with international implications when asked to join the International Ski Federation (FIS) on its PR and Media Committee as well as the World Cup Committee. He also served on the board of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation and was instrumental in the initiation of the Sun Valley Ski Academy.

Black sold Ski Racing magazine after 18 years and countless Olympics, World Championships and World Cup races to Inside Communications in 2003. After three years, he reacquired it in 2006 with three partners, all of whom share a dedication to ski sport. Since then, he worked as CEO and managing partner of the website and accompanying mobile application.

He has received numerous awards for his achievements in journalism: the Blegen Award, the FIS Journalist Award, the International Association of Ski Journalists (AIJS) lifetime achievement award and the International Skiing History Association (ISHA) lifetime achievement award. At the time of his death, Black was the Chairman of the Board of the Abell Foundation (the largest private foundation in Maryland), a role he assumed upon his father’s death in 1987, and was a trustee of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Foundation.

Black had an infectious laugh, a never-ending supply of stories to share, and a smile for everyone. He was happiest on the side of a race course cheering on athletes, making his own perfect ski turns, preparing his famous fondue dinners, mixing his Yuletide eggnog, and walking with his dogs. He was a loving husband, tremendous father, inspirational leader and loyal friend. He will be missed by many.

“The world lost one of the greatest patrons of American ski racing yesterday,” said current SkiRacing.com Publisher and Chief Operating Officer Claire Abbe Brown. “Thanks to Gary’s passion for ski racing and extensive knowledge of journalism, our sport has a news medium that chronicles our sport with pride and professionalism to keep American ski racing visible as a world leader in winter sport. He was an incredible leader to our entire staff, someone we all deeply respected, and we all appreciate the opportunities he afforded us to cover the sport we love.”

He is survived by his wife Heather Freeman Black, his three daughters, Amanda Rising Black, Serena Black Martin, and Alexandra Kathleen Black as well as three grandchildren, Alexander Byers Martin III, Adair Jackson Martin, and Harrison Van Lear Black.  He is also survived by a sister, Catharine Wilder Peterson.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his honor to the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation or the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Foundation. Please contact Amanda Black for more information: ablack@ussa.org.

A memorial service will be held in the spring, and SkiRacing.com plans to publish a forthcoming remembrance feature.