Wayne Lewis Black

Wayne Lewis Black, loving husband, father, brother, and friend, peacefully returned to the loving arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ, on July 5, 2026, after a valiant yet unsuccessful battle with cancer.

Lewis was born August 24, 1964, in Salt Lake City. He was the youngest son of Bettina and Wayne Black. Lewis grew up in Salt Lake City and graduated from Skyline High in 1982. He then attended Linfield College, graduating Magna Cum Laude in History and Theater. He earned a Master’s in History from Northeastern University in Boston, and he then earned a second Master’s in International Relations from the University of Southern California.

Lewis held many interesting jobs in his lifetime, but none were more memorable than his internship with Congressman Wayne Owens in Washington, DC. The congressman was championing legislation to reintroduce wolves in Yellowstone National Park, and Lewis had the honor of chauffeuring an actual wolf and his handler through the halls of Congress and to events in the city.

For 16 years, Lewis shared his love of history with students as an Adjunct Instructor of History at Salt Lake Community College.

His educational career culminated in earning a Juris Doctorate from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law. He worked as an Associate Attorney at the law firm of Dunn and Dunn, where he published several scholarly papers, and he also presented at multiple educational seminars. Most recently, he served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Department of Health and Human Services for the State of Utah.

After several unsuccessful attempts, Lewis achieved his life-long dream of appearing on stage with Alex Trebek on Jeopardy! Lewis was a fierce competitor, but he was bested by James Holzhauer, one of the top three Jeopardy champions ever. Though Lewis was the only player to get the final question correct, James had amassed such a lead that Lewis was not able to overcome it. As a second-place winner, he did take home some money and a fabulous personal story. He also became active with the group of former Jeopardy players on social media.

Lewis had a love for community theater and served on the board of Stage Right Theater Company, performing on stage and working backstage for many years. During the long hours of building sets, Lewis met Kara Potts, and a great friendship took hold. During the production of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, their friendship blossomed into romance. They started dating, and six months later they were married.

The Blacks made their home in Sugar House and became parents of two beautiful daughters, Miriam and Lily. The kids caught the performance bug, and the family appeared together in several productions at Millcreek Community Theater.

Though weak from chemotherapy, Lewis found the energy to play President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the Millcreek Community Theatre production of “Annie.” He quipped, “The character has two scenes, one song, and sits in a wheelchair the whole time. I think I can manage that.” Kara and Lily also were in the cast, and Miriam worked as part of the stage crew.

Making memories has been the focus of his last few years, and the Blacks enjoyed trips to Disney World and Universal Studios, San Francisco, and a cruise to the Western Caribbean. The family loved exploring national parks, and Lewis kept a walking stick with medallions from the parks they visited.

Lewis was preceded in death by his parents (Bettina Loewen Rothrock Black and Wayne Lythgoe Black), sister (Dr. Mary Bettina Black Johnson), nephew (Anthony Parnell DiAna), and brother-in-law (Tim Dalton Dunn).

Lewis is survived by his wife, Kara Potts Black, and beloved daughters, Miriam Jeanne and Lillian (Lily) Bettina. He also is survived by his siblings, Jo Lee Black Heaton, James Rothrock Black (JoAnn), Phillip (Pete) Parnell Black, Susan Black Dunn (Tim), and Carl Johnson (Twila). He has numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, professional colleagues, and friends who will miss his intellectual prowess and dry wit.

The family would like to thank the wonderful care givers at Intermountain Health Care Hospice for their service in helping Lewis find comfort in his final days.

Services for W. Lewis Black will be held at the Parley’s 6th Ward (2350 S 2100 E, Salt Lake City, UT), on Saturday, July 11, at 11:00 A.M. Friends may visit with the family prior to the service at 9:30 A.M. Flowers may be accepted at the ward house between 8:30 and 9:30 A.M.

Cremation and placement of ashes at the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park will be handled in a private family service later.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Huntsman Cancer Institute, patronize your local community theater, and vote for the Democrats!

For those unable to attend the services, please click on this link for a live stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/i80wh1nOXoo?feature=shared