Douglas McClester Black, age 75, died on Sunday, August 27, 2023, with his wife and life partner of 33 years, Alicia Black by his side after a brief illness where he rested peacefully in hospice care.

Doug was born in Pennsylvania in April 1948, but his long-time home was in Los Altos and Sunnyvale, California, where his parents, J. Lester "Les" Black and Martha McClester Black, who predeceased him, relocated in the mid-1960s. And, later in 2000, he decided to move cross country to North Carolina, his wife's home state.

Doug is survived by his wife, Alicia Black of Louisburg, NC, his beloved oldest sister, Martha Wright of Texas, another sister in Georgia, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins in California, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Doug graduated from the University of California, Davis with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies in 1970. Doug was an avid Model A Ford car collector, and his cars and parts were his true passion. Doug has many Model A Fords and many more parts, and he sincerely enjoyed having friends come by, while he answered questions about Model A Fords, and thoroughly enjoyed telling stories about the old days. Doug was a lifetime member of The Antique Automobile Club of America.

Doug was also a sincere animal advocate and especially loved cats. He was always okay with his wife bringing in "one more cat" until they could find it a home or it became a resident, which was more the usual. Doug was an avid reader and loved early 20 th century American history. He also thoroughly enjoyed gardening, especially growing the Early Girl variety tomatoes that everyone relished all summer. And, if anyone ever had a question about music from the late 1960s, Doug had the answer because he was probably at the show. He attended and photographed basically all of the concerts at the Fillmore Auditorium from 1967 until late 1968 in San Francisco, and has all the posters to remember them.

We would especially like to thank the SECU Hospice House of Johnston County UNC Healthcare that provided Doug the comfort and dignity that he so well deserved in his final days.

Please consider a donation in lieu of flowers to your local cat rescue organization or animal shelter near you in Doug's memory.

For additional information or for service details, please reach out to the family directly.

Paid obituary