Thomas F. Black , Iii

Thomas F. Black III of Hope Valley, RI passed away on June 11, 2024 in hospice care at the Westerly RI Hospital.

Tom, as he was known by the great many who benefited from his generous and thoughtful efforts as President of the Horace and Ella Kimball Foundation, passed peacefully at Westerly Hospital following a long struggle with illness. Tom was known for his concerns for aiding the homeless, senior citizens, veterans, food banks, animal rescue facilities, first responders, historic preservation, and the Wood River.

Mr. Black was crucial to funding the scholarship at the RI Bar Association Foundation which bears the name of his father, who himself was a prominent RI lawyer and former president of the Old Stone Bank in Providence. Many lawyers over several decades entered the profession thanks to assistance from the Thomas F. Black Jr. scholarship at the Bar Foundation.

Tom Black spent early years in the radio business where he was a familiar voice in Providence news and also an owner and broadcaster at a Pawcatuck Radio station.

A scholarship has been created at the University of Rhode Island (his alma mater) which will be in memory of Tom Black III’s interest in seeing the future leadership of nonprofit organizations in RI be as skilled and committed to ethical leadership as possible.

Following his father’s interest in sailing, Tom was a keen sailor for many years, and also loved power boating to Long Island, Block Island, and Newport. Tom was a graduate of the Portsmouth Priory and the University of Rhode Island. He was also a veteran of the RI Air National Guard.

Mr. Black was a very private person and service will be accordingly. Mr. Black leaves a sister, Elizabeth , and a brother David, as well as several nephews and nieces. His older sister Margo predeceased him.