Maryann Black

Maryann Black, 62, was born on December 24, 1952, to Henry and Teresa Ross in New York City, New York. Maryann was the oldest of nine children, in order there was Maryann, Maureen, George, T.C. (Teresa), Hank, Alice, Elaine, Karen, and Jimmy. As a child, Maryann was bright and playful. She loved being a tomboy and competing with the boys in softball and other neighborhood sports. She was an excellent softball player and prided herself on her ability to hit well. This skill carried forward into her teenage and young adult years. When she was eight years old, Maryann moved from Seaford to Commack Long Island, New York where she forged most of her childhood and young adult memories. She attended Marion Carle grammar school and then went on to St. Joseph’s Academy for Girls in Brentwood, New York for her high school years. Maryann was raised in an Irish Catholic family, and as such, she was extremely family focused, quick to turn any worthy occasion into a celebration, and she loved Saint Patrick’s Day. She also liked the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City, where on March 17th, the whole city is Irish.

Maryann will be most remembered for being all about others. Although she had a special connection with children, she loved them and they loved her. She was genuinely a happy person. Her enthusiasm radiated throughout and could light up a room. She was kind and generous, almost to fault. Maryann also had the ability to recognize when someone was heading down a bad path, then she would reason with them to change their approach before doing damage, particularly where somebody’s self-esteem or pride was involved.

In 1971, Maryann graduated from Saint Joseph’s Academy for Girls. Following her high school graduation, she attended Pace College in New York, but left in her second year to marry her husband, Gary Black. After her marriage, Maryann spent 20 years in various Customer Service operations, serving customers for Bank Credit Card products. She wound up her career as a customer service trainer, a position she very much enjoyed and one which took her to California, Kansas, Kentucky, New York, Florida and Illinois.

Maryann married Gary Black on April 19, 1972 in a civil ceremony held in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the urging of her maternal grandmother, they were again married in a Catholic Ceremony at Christ the King Parish in Commack, New York on December 30, 1972. Gary and Maryann again renewed their marriage vows on November 6, 2015, after 43 years of marriage. They were deeply in love and committed to each other throughout their marriage, which produced two beautiful children. Kathryn (Kathy) was born on February 8, 1973, in Honolulu, Hawaii. William (Billy) was born on November 28, 1978, in Port Jefferson, New York.

Maryann had many hobbies that she greatly enjoyed, but they all pretty much consisted of figuring out ways to have fun. She loved to walk, which she did almost every day. Maryann could regularly be found walking around Lake Wilson in McKinney, Texas, or the miles of roads near her home. She also liked to do the organized 5K events, for which she and Gary would travel long distances in order to participate. She loved riding her bike and hiking. In addition, she had a penchant for making friends with animals. She would feed the local rabbits nearly every day, and they showed no fear of her. Birds, ducks, squirrels and like critters were all beneficiaries of Maryann’s fondness for small wild animals.

Maryann had some favorite places she loved to be. When her children were younger, she loved taking them to Disney World in Orlando, Florida and to the Halloween Spectacular (Halloween Horror Nights) held every year at Universal Studios, also in Florida. Those events became a big part of the children’s lives and of their family memories. While Maryann enjoyed air travel, she absolutely loved traveling by cruise ship. Interestingly enough, she also enthusiastically embraced car travel and loved to drive, particularly on the long straight roads in the Western United States and Florida. Maryann had an immense zest for life and could approach almost anything with interest, enthusiasm and humor. However, she did favor some things above others. She loved beaches. Atlantic, Pacific, Caribbean or Gulf, she didn’t care. They were all grand, but Hawaiian beaches were her favorite. In general, she wasn’t fond of high places and would shy away from ledges and overlooks. However, she did love Mount Blanc in France, and while still a bit cautious, she pushed herself to the edge of the outlooks to enjoy the phenomenal scenery. Back around 2002, Maryann and Gary went up in a hot air balloon, which became one of her favorite memories…but they only did it that one time. She loved to take care of her home, including furnishing and decorating. She also loved cooking and going to the market or the butcher to buy the ingredients to cook up special meals. She loved Ahi Tuna, lobster, clams and oysters, as well as Sea Bass and tilapia. A good steak could always win a smile on her beautiful face. While she could cook all these treats, she took great pleasure enjoying them cooked and prepared in fine restaurants.

Maryann loved the spring and summer seasons, could tolerate fall but disliked winter and the cold weather immensely. Her favorite time of the year though was the holiday season with a big emphasis on Christmas. Her and her family’s finest Christmas Seasons were spent in Hawaii and Florida because she got the best of the weather and the season that she loved so well.

Maryann was a fan of 1970s Rock and Roll music. She was particularly fond of Carly Simon, Olivia Newton John, and of course Cher. For a long time, her favorite band was the Bee Gees. She loved Christmas music as well, and would turn on all the Christmas music stations in the car, and would also have the radio playing non-stop Christmas music in the house throughout the season. She enjoyed movies, but particularly loved “Grease” with John Travolta and Olivia Newton John. She also enjoyed the Harry Potter movie series. Her attachment to these films was driven by the love she had for her children, who loved these movies... consequently, her fondness for these films could well have actually been more the result of the joy she saw on the children’s faces when they were watching them.

One of the special memories Maryann had, was in 1971 with her Father. He was able to secure front row tickets for the Bangladesh Concert that was organized by George Harrison. Maryann attended this concert which provided a lifelong prized memory. She also secured tickets to see U2 in Tampa, Florida. U2 was her daughter’s favorite band, and Maryann was able to take her daughter, Kathy. In 2015, Maryann won Beach Boys tickets in a radio contest. Maryann and her husband got to see this iconic rock group, who sounded every bit as good in 2015, as they did in the 1960s and 1970s. These events provided wonderful opportunities for family time and produced fantastic memories.

Maryann entered into eternal rest on December 13, 2015, surrounded by her loving family. She is preceded in death by her Daughter, Kathryn Black (October 13, 2009); Father, Henry Ross; Mother, Teresa Ross; Brother, George Ross; Sisters, Maureen Ross and TC (Teresa) Ross; Mother-In-Law, A. Patricia Black and Brother-In Law, Terrence Black.

Maryann is survived by her Husband, Gary Black of McKinney, TX; Son, William Black, and spouse, John Blair, of Alexandria, VA; Brothers, Henry (Hank) Ross of New Providence, NJ, and Jimmy Ross, and spouse Jenny, of Hauppauge, NY; Sisters, Alice, and spouse Michael, of Commack, NY, Elaine, and spouse James of Commack, NY, and Karen of Commack, NY.

A special recognition to the nurses of the 4th floor of the McKinney Medical Center, of Texas; who cared for Maryann, until she passed away. Their concern, empathy and professionalism was phenomenal.