Cantor Julius Blackman

1913 - 2019

October 7, 1913 - April 22, 2019
Cantor Julius (Julie) Blackman died in his San Francisco apartment at 105½.
Julie was born in Chicago, the second of five children. Growing up, he pursued both music and athletics. Rogers Hornsby offered him a spot on a Cubs farm team, but he declined in order to pursue his education. As a young man, Julie was active in social justice causes. He worked for Hull house and was a labor organizer in a war plant during WWII.
In 1939, he married Phyllis, to whom he was married for 67 years, and in 1945 he and his growing family moved to Los Angeles. He did cantorial studies with renowned cantors Paul Discount and Josef Roman Cycowski, and served as cantor for Valley Jewish Community Center (VJCC, now Adat Ari El), Temple Beth Zion, Valley Beth Shalom, all in Los Angeles, and Temple Isaiah in Palm Springs. The family moved to San Francisco where he served as cantor at Ner Tamid, and in 1963 he became executive director of Hebrew Free Loan in San Francisco. During his years with Hebrew Free Loan, he continued providing services as a cantor on weekends and holidays. After retiring at the age of 77, Julie was active on the boards of many San Francisco organizations, including Hillel, Humanities Foundation, and B'nai B'rith.
Among his many contributions, Julie: organized a Jewish Music Council at VJCC which developed programs and concerts; was founding president of the Cantors Assembly West Coast Region; was founding chair of the University of Judaism's Music Advisory Council; greatly expanded the work of the Hebrew Free Loan; initiated outreach to other free loan agencies, fulfilling his dream of founding an Association of Hebrew Free Loans in 1981; played a pivotal role in helping found San Francisco's Jewish Vocational Service; was the first cantor from the western half of the United States to receive an honorary doctor of music from the Jewish Theological Seminary.
He is survived by his children (Ellen, Paul [Susan], and Beth), his sister and brother-in-law, Eve and Eli Catran, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife, Phyllis, in 2007.
There will be a celebration of his life June 2. Please email the family at ellen.blackman@aol.com for information.
Contributions in his memory may be made to: HFL, 131 Steuart St. #520, SF 94105; Jewish Family and Children's Services, P.O. Box 159004, SF 94115; and Peninsula Health Care District, for the Trousdale Wellness Center, 1819 Trousdale Drive, Burlingame, CA 94010; or a charity of your choice.