Allen Decatur Black

Black Allen Decatur Lawyer, pilot, mentor, and beloved friend, passed away peacefully on June 18, 2025 at his home in Point Pleasant, Pennsylvania, with his husband, Randy Apgar, by his side. Born in Pittsburgh in 1942, Allen was the only child of Gerald and Elizabeth Black. He graduated from Princeton University, where he discovered his lifelong love of flying, and went on to earn his law degree magna cum laude from Penn Law School. A clerkship with Civil Rights champion Judge John Minor Wisdom profoundly shaped Allen's career and commitment to justice. Allen's legal work included serving as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and as a JAG officer in the U.S. Navy. He was a gifted litigator and founding partner of the Philadelphia firm Fine, Kaplan and Black, where he practiced for decades and helped shape major cases in antitrust and securities law. A longtime elected member of the American Law Institute, Allen also served as its first vice president and was deeply engaged in legal education, teaching at several universities and mentoring generations of attorneys. Outside the courtroom, Allen was a passionate aviator, holding multiple advanced pilot certifications and serving as a flight instructor. He was also a devoted community leader, playing key roles in the Bucks County Airport Authority, Friends of the Delaware Canal, and Delaware Canal 21, and he served Trinity Episcopal Church in Solebury with dedication and grace. An ardent supporter of the arts, he was especially committed to the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. Allen is survived by his husband, Randy Apgar, and by a wide circle of family, friends, and colleagues who cherished his intelligence, kindness, and wit. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Solebury, PA on Saturday, July 19 at 1:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations in Allen's memory may be made to the American Law Institute, the Academy of Vocal Arts, or the ACLU, " Foundation of Pennsylvania. Arrangements JOSEPH A. FLUEHR III FUNERAL HOME, New Britain, PA www.fluehr.com