The recent passing of Ken Black, who was known to so many of us as, “Mr. Lighthouse,” will leave a void in the lighthouse preservation movement that can never be filled.

While Ken’s legacy will live on with the Maine Lighthouse Museum, it is vital to remember that what we all view there today, is only a condensed version of what one man was able to accomplish, primarily, in his retirement years for the benefit of tens of thousands of future generations.

While most people on this planet start projects and then eventually walk away from them after they have accomplished their goal, or worse, lose interest and never accomplish their goal, this was not the case for this remarkable man. Nearly to the day of his passing, he devoted his life to saving lighthouse artifacts and their history as well as helping others through the numerous charitable organizations he was active in. And, he never did any of it for personal gain or fame. He did it because it was the right thing to do and he always had fun doing it.

But, more importantly, he was a good and devoted husband and family man and many people considered him a friend and he considered many people his friends.

While many people considered him a hero, he considered those who helped him in the lighthouse movement as his heroes.

We must also give thanks to Ken’s wonderful wife, Dot, who so selflessly, shared Ken with so many of us for so many years. We must all be sure to keep her in our thoughts and prayers in the months ahead as she will continue to fulfill Ken’s dreams, hopes and aspirations.

Ken Black was my mentor and my dearest friend. I will miss him dearly. However, I will strive to carry his legacy forward as I hope you will also do.

Good-bye, my dear friend.

And above all, in the words that you so often said and lived by as your legacy is carried forward, I promise to “Be Neighborly.”

This story appeared in the March 2007 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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