John Black

He was the "John of all trades," a man who believed that if you paid someone else to do a job, you were breaking the rules. With size 13 working-man hands and a relentless "do-it-yourself" ethos, he transformed every space he touched—from finishing basements and laying marble tile to building a backyard pavilion and pool that became the family's private sanctuary.

His career was built on water and grit. As the owner of John Black Construction, he was a master of pool reconstruction, though he was perhaps better known for his "dirty pool tricks," like playfully shooting water in the face of anyone—including his son-in-law—who stood in the wrong spot for too long.

For the last 17 years, he was the steady heart of his daughter’s home. He was the "Pop Pop" who could fix anything with a Bobcat and the mentor who taught his grandson, Gavin, that you can do absolutely anything you put your mind to. And he liked to get out on the road for the occasional adventure: his favorite times may have been driving his motorhome to Disney.

He leaves behind a legacy written in hardwood floors, beautiful landscapes, the simple, powerful lesson that the best things in life are the ones you build with your own two hands, and the best pancakes of all time. He was a lifelong Maple Shade resident.

His life’s greatest partnership began at a Getty Station in Lenola, where he first saw a pretty girl coming in to get her car serviced. John and Jean’s 53-year marriage was blessed by his daughter, Tammy Carnivale, and her husband, Marc; and his daughter, Kimberly Black; and later by four grandchildren: Kelley Kralik, Kristen Kralik, Tyler Carnivale, and Gavin Carnivale. He is also survived by his siblings: Dorothy Wilson, Carol Dilks, James Black and Jean Holloway. He was predeceased by his parents Jenning and Dorothy Black.

Family will celebrate 79 great years privately.