John Black III

SUN CITY CENTER, Fla. – John Black III passed away May 3, 2026, surrounded by family at the age of 82. He was born July 26, 1943, in Portland, the eldest son of John Black Jr. and Barbara (Gomes) Black. A 1962 graduate of Waterville High School, John was an avid sports fan beginning with his days as a member of the Waterville Boys and Girls Club. He was a manager for the Waterville high boys basketball team for three years and a statistician for the football team.

John was a beloved and well-known figure throughout Central Maine. He worked many years in a variety of roles at the Central Maine Morning Sentinel. He also enjoyed being a basketball referee for over 40 years and officiated games throughout the area. He was frequently stopped by people who recalled him refereeing their games. He always enjoyed taking the ferry for games at the Vinalhaven School. He will be inducted into the Maine Basketball of Fame this August. John was an usher at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and later a parishioner of Notre Dame Catholic Church.

Despite physical challenges, John never let those interfere with his passion for participating in sports. When he wasn’t on the basketball court, or coaching youth sports, he loved traveling to visit family, spending time in Boothbay Harbor and the Maine coast, reading the daily newspaper and watching sports from his recliner, especially the Boston Red Sox and Celtics.

He is survived by his sons John Black IV, his wife, Teresa and their children; Josie and Trevor of Ellenton, Fla., Jeff Black and his life partner, Cathy LaRocco of Ruther Glen, Va. He is also survived by his brother, Stephen, and sister-in-law, Jana Black of Traverse City, Mich.

A celebration of life will be held this summer in Waterville.

The family requests donations be made to the

Waterville Area Boys & Girls Club & YMCA

(Attn: John Black Scholarship Fund)

126 North St.

Waterville, ME 04901

or via the website at

http://www.clubaycc.org.