Students, faculty remember nursing staff member

A former Kramer School of Nursing faculty member recently died.

Christopher Black, former director of communications and outreach for the Kramer School of Nursing, died of a heart attack Feb. 25.

He was 44 years old.

Black received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Oklahoma City University in 2000. He returned to the university to complete his master’s degree in business administration, graduating in 2010. 

Black worked as an OCU faculty member for 12 ½ years. 

Black served as CEO and producer of The City Cabaret OKC, as well as academic coordinator and instructor at El Sistema Oklahoma. He was also an independent professional musician and played the bass for over 23 years. 

A few weeks before his death, Black announced on Facebook that he started a company called Academic Health Care Communications, an editing, design and communications service for students, faculty and professionals in health care fields. 

Vladia Cortest, accounting sophomore, worked for Black in the Kramer School of Nursing as an assistant communications and outreach specialist.

“He was a really passionate and caring person,” Cortest said. “Above all else, he was passionate about taking care of people, and embraced love.”

Cortest said Black was more of a mentor than a boss.

“Chris wasn’t just my boss who told me what to do,” Cortest said. “He was someone who gave me advice in every aspect of my life and was always there for me. I really looked up to him.”

Cortest said Black once helped her in a time of grief.

“My best friend died a couple years ago,” Cortest said. “One time I had to work on her birthday, and I got really overwhelmed with emotion and was having a really hard time. He came in to talk to me about a task I was doing and noticed something was off. He was like, ‘hey, I know something’s wrong. You don’t have to talk about it, but if you want to, I am here to listen.’ I told him the situation and that I was struggling. He gave me a hug and said that she would want me to keep on living.”

Cortest said she realized in that moment the exact kind of person Black was. 

“It was a very monumental moment in my life, to know that someone I worked for could be that caring. He saw me as a human, not just as someone who worked for him,” she said.

Cortest said she eventually considered Black a friend. 

“He brought a lot of love and care to the university,” Cortest said. “He was an extremely generous person who just wanted to help people. He went above and beyond and did things for everyone that he didn’t necessarily have to do but wanted to.”

Students, colleagues and friends posted tributes to Black on Facebook after news spread of his death. 

Cheyanne Marie, music theater graduate, posted on her Facebook page about Black’s impact.

“My heart is breaking for the Black family,” she wrote. “Christopher Black, you were one hell of a bass player, educator, musician and family man. You will be greatly missed. I look forward to making music together again someday. Float on.”

Marie said she met Black over a year ago at a City Cabaret OKC performance.

“I’ve always known him as a really awesome bass musician,” Marie said. “The City Cabaret had auditions on campus a few months after we met, which was when I realized his connection to OCU.”

Marie said Black had a caring and nurturing spirit. 

“You could speak to him without even knowing him, and you would still instantly feel comfortable,” Marie said. “There’s not many people like that nowadays. That quality also showed through his music, which was one of the reasons I loved him as a musician.”

Marie said Black’s time at OCU was filled with value, love and good music. 

“Always be kind, because ultimately you want to be remembered for the good things, like he was,” Marie said. 

Blake Bulger, nursing sophomore, said Black was dedicated to his students.

“He was a student advocate,” Bulger said. “He put the needs of his students above the needs of the university itself, which may not be that common of a thread among educators.” 

Bulger said Black was fun-loving and easy to talk to. 

“He was always super supportive and absolutely hilarious,” Bulger said. “As a nursing major, school can be really stressful. He was always there to make you laugh and feel comfortable. Everybody loved him.”

Bulger said Black deeply impacted the university.

“He impacted OCU by genuinely caring about students,” Bulger said. “He always made us feel welcome and heard. Overall, he made the university’s educational process better.”

Black’s memorial was 3 p.m., March 8 at Rococo Restaurant, and it was open to the public.

If students need assistance or support during this time, they can utilize the university’s free counseling services. For more information on counseling services or to schedule an appointment, students can call (405) 208-7901.