Mary Elizabeth Black (Anderson), 80 years old, of Big Cedar Estates in Oro Medonte, lost her battle with cancer on Friday, July 5, 2019, at 4:10 am after having a chance to spend precious time with her family.
Mary’s signature fashion statement was a wide-brimmed hat. She never took “no” for an answer and her motto was “It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.” She was a force to be reckoned with. She made a difference in the lives of all who knew her.
In 1967 as a single Mom of 2 young girls she started her career as a technical illustrator and art director in the publishing industry and then made a move to Graphic Litho Plate as a sales representative. During that time, she also went to night school, earning a BA in Psychology from York University in 1976. After a successful career in prepress sales Mary decided to start her own company and in 1985 Colour Technologies was born. Over the next 15 years Colour Technologies became one of the top prepress film house in Canada.
In 1996 Mary blazed a new trail as Professor and Chair of Ryerson University’s School of Graphic Communications Management (GCM) where she developed management trainees for the print and communications industry. During her 10 years at Ryerson, she was the force behind the creation of GCMs new home, the Heidelberg Centre, which made the school a focal point for the printing industry. After completing her tenure at Ryerson, Mary knew she had more to give and became a recruiter for the print industry, which was a natural step due to the relationships she had with her past students and the industry overall.
Mary was very active in the printing industry as President, Director, Founding Director and Advisor for numerous industry associations. She was the recipient of the 1992 Toronto Sun Woman on the Move Award and the 1993 YWCA Woman of Distinction Award. She was nominated in 1994 by the University of Toronto as Female Entrepreneur of the Year. Graphic Monthly Magazine named Mary, Printer of the Year for 2005. Mary was also conferred the title of Professor Emerita, Ryerson University in 2006.
In 2009 Mary found her true love Ronald Roy and they married in 2015. Over the next few years, they traveled from Australia to South Africa and many places in between.
Mary will be missed by her husband Ron and daughters Heather Black (Brad), Brenda Slater (Brian) and Shelley Roy (Jeff).
Mary leaves behind grandchildren, Deanna, Kevin (Trisha), Devon, Jake, Josh, Sydney Jacob, and her great-grandchild Kattaleya, along with her brother David Anderson (Charlene), and her niece Christine (Dan) and nephews David (Wendy) and Andrew (Lara) and their children.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to help build the Mariposa House Hospice in Orillia. Mary was very proud of her part in building Ryerson’s GCM school and so we know it would make her smile to know she was contributing to the building of a hospice. If you would like to make a donation on behalf of Mary Black, please contact Carson Funeral Homes (705) 326-3595.
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