Class of 1963
(Notes posted in the order they were received, with the newest posts on top.)
Thomas Morombe Black passed away June 3, 2006. Preceded in death by his loving wife and mother of their three children, Ann Sammons Black; his mother and father, Edith Morcombe Black and Thomas Black; his brother, John Robert Black. Survived by his three children and their spouses, Thomas Morcombe Black Jr. (Beth), Robert Samuel Black (Kelley) and Ann Marie Black Thompson (David); his six grandchildren, Thomas Morcombe Black III, Elizabeth Clare Black, William Aubrey Black, Jenna Elizabeth Black, Clayton Shay Thompson and Andrew David Thompson. Of all the accomplishments of his life, Mr. Black was most proud of his family and their close relationships among all family members. He was most proud that all three children earned college degrees; both sons from Sewanee; his daughter from Trevecca Nazarene University. Mr. Black was a lifelong and active Episcopalian having served several times in prior years as senior warden and vestryman at St. Ann's, Nashville and more recently at St. James The Less, Madison, where he was a Communicant until his death. He was a former Vice President of the Episcopal Churchmen of Tennessee. He was active in civic and community affairs having been a member and former President of the Madison Optimist Club. He emphasized the involvement of Madison area youth in various programs, particularly the annual high school oratorical contest which he chaired for several years in the 1970s and 80s. Mr. Black graduated from Isaac Litton High School, Nashville in 1954. He earned the BA Degree in History from The University of the South (Sewanee) in 1958 and the JD Degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1963.
Mr. Black remained very active with Sewanee through the alumni council and as President of the Nashville Sewanee Club, and most recently as Chairman for Alumni Giving for his class. He and his wife, Ann, took great pride in helping Nashville area prospective students learn about and attending Sewanee. Following graduation from law school and the admission to the practice of law, Mr. Black had a long, distinguished, and successful career a one year appointment as a law clerk and research assistant to the Tennessee Supreme Court, eight years with the Nashville firm of Gracey, Buck, Maddin, and Cowan; in 1972, with his longtime friend, Thomas E. Stewart, the law firm of Stewart Black was founded with its offices in Madison where it has remained to the present. Mr. Black's professional accolades included Board Member and Officer of the Nashville Bar Association; President of the Barristers Club of Nashville; a member of the American Judicature Society; member of the Tennessee and American Bar Associations; Who's Who of American Law, 4th Edition. He was admitted to practice before all of the State Courts of Tennessee, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee and the United States 6th District Court of Appeals. In addition, before attending Vanderbilt law School, Mr. Black served in the U.S. Army Reserve which included a tour of active duty with the regular army. He also taught English and History and coached football and baseball at Castle Heights Military Academy, Lebanon and Montgomery Bell Academy, Nashville.
In lieu of flowers, family members ask that donations may be made to the following St. James The Less Episcopal Church, W. Due West Avenue, Madison, TN 37115; Montgomery Bell Academy Financial Aid Fund, 4001 Harding Road, Nashville, TN 37205; Odyssey Hospice, 444 Metroplex Drive, Nashville, TN 37211; or charity of one's choice.
Sylvan Ray Zbinden died peacefully on May 10, 2006. He was born July 4, 1938, to Mildred and Louis Zbinden of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was a graduate of McCallie School, Chattanooga; Rhodes College, Memphis, where he was a Kappa Alpha; and Vanderbilt Law School, Nashville.
He was a member of the Texas Bar Association and was employed by the Attorney General's Office of Tennessee, the Southland Corp. of Dallas, and for 21 years was an executive with Olan Mills Inc. Ray was an active member of Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church.
He is survived by Peggy, his wife of 43 years; son Chris, of Indianapolis; daughter, Neel Gibbons and husband, Joe; granddaughter, Ava; mother-in-law, Margaret Moffett; brothers, Louis and wife, Kip, of San Antonio, Texas, Mark and wife, Betsy, of Chattanooga; brother-in-law, Hal Moffett, of Monroe, La.; sister-in-law, Ann Tully-Lugwig and husband, Michael, of St. Louis; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of loving and caring friends.
Memorials can be made to Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, McCallie School General Scholarship Fund in Chattanooga or to the charity of your choice.
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