Cantor Julius Blackman

Cantor Julius (Julie) Blackman died in his San Francisco apartment on April 22, 2019; he was 105 ½.

Julie was born in Chicago on October 7, 1913, the second of five children. Growing up, he pursued both music and athletics. Rogers "the Rajah" Hornsby offered him a spot on a Cubs farm team, but he declined so that he could continue his education.

As a young man, Julie was active in social justice causes, singing for groups raising money for Spanish Loyalists fighting Franco, doing community organizing at Hull House, and labor organizing while working at a war plant during World War II.

In 1939, he married Phyllis, to whom he was married for sixty-seven years. In 1945, he and his growing family moved to Los Angeles.

• Valley Jewish Community Center (VJCC, now Adat Ari El)
• Temple Beth Zion
• Valley Beth Shalom (all in Los Angeles)
• Temple Isaiah in Palm Springs

In 1960, he moved to San Francisco to become cantor at Congregation Ner Tamid. Three years later, he was appointed executive director of the Hebrew Free Loan.

During his years with Hebrew Free Loan, he continued providing services as a cantor on weekends and holidays, helping lead High Holiday services at Temple Beth El in Salinas and later at the Jewish Home in San Francisco. He also substituted for other cantors, trained b'nai mitzvah students, and served as interim clergy at emerging congregations.

After retiring at the age of 77, Julie continued as a volunteer in many organizations, including B'nai B'rith and San Francisco Humanities.

Among his many contributions, Julie should be recognized for:

• Organizing a Jewish Music Council at VJCC, including concerts and Jewish Music Month celebrations
• Serving as founding president of the Cantors Assembly West Coast Region for six years
• Acting as founding chair of the University of Judaism's Music Advisory Council in the 1950s
• Expanding Hebrew Free Loan's assets from $350,000 to $5 million during his 27-year tenure as Executive Director
• Instituting a student loan program in 1964, which has grown to represent 65% of the agency's loans
• Helping found San Francisco's Jewish Vocational Service in the early 1970s
• Initiating the Association of Hebrew Free Loans in 1981
• Receiving an honorary doctorate of music from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2002-the first cantor from the western United States to be so honored

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.

The family thanks his longtime doctors, Dr. Lester Jacobson and Dr. Lawrence Shore, who enabled him to reach 105 ½ in reasonably good health.

There will be a celebration of his life in early June. For information, email the family at ellen.blackman@aol.com.

Contributions in his memory may be made to:

• Hebrew Free Loan (131 Steuart St. #520, San Francisco, CA 94105)
• Jewish Family and Children's Services (P.O. Box 159004, San Francisco, CA 94115)
• Trousdale Wellness Center (1819 Trousdale Drive, Burlingame, CA 94010)
• Or a charity of your choice