He was always willing to help, inspire and service others even at a time when he was helpless.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Jonathan Black used his Facebook page - Our Battle through Pancreatic Cancer - not only to document his journey with pancreatic cancer, but to uplift and encourage others that even life's most difficult adversities can be tackled with faith in God and positive thinking.
He also advocated for suicide prevention, and after he gave an update on his progress, he ended each post with inspirational Biblical scripture and encouraging words like "Life is worth fighting for. Give it all you can."
Doctors diagnosed Sgt. Black, a detention corporal for Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer on Nov. 24, 2017, the day after Thanksgiving
And while many families spent the 4th of July holiday barbecuing, at the beach or enjoying fireworks, The Black family spent another holiday in the hospital, watching Sgt. Black fight for his life.
Sgt. Black, 40, a selfless humanitarian who only ever asked for prayers, died among family July 8 due to complications from his Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
His wife of six years, Heather Black says after all the pain he suffered he finally seemed comfortable and wasn't afraid. He was at peace and ready to go to heaven to meet Jesus and see their daughter Emily Rose Sabow, who tragically died from carbon monoxide poisoning on Dec. 21, 2015.
"That made it a lot easier, and it's kind of relieving because I know he's not suffering anymore," she said.
"He's my warrior; he's my strength. His heart was so strong-he hung on for so long, days more than we expected him to."
She recalls some of their best days together, including their wedding day and first overnight trip alone in October of 2011 at Ruskin's Harborside Suites at Little Harbor, which was the pinnacle of their relationship.
"We had so much fun and learned so much about each other and knew after that trip there would never be an end to our relationship," she said.
The two were inseparable and literally soulmates.
After spending an entire week at Moffitt Cancer Center with him, she barely got any rest, but she said he knew how tired and delirious she was, and practically waited until she rested.
"Once he heard from me that I had slept, that was it," she said.
The news stunned his friends and colleagues.
"When I learned of his passing, I broke down with emotion," said Lt. Chris Fortner, Sgt. Black's colleague and best friend who shared a viral video of a final radio check for his friend - something traditionally done in law enforcement for deputies killed in line of duty or for firemen.
"He just had that ability, that way with people to make them feel welcome and like part of his family. He is irreplaceable, a truly unique gift from God. Jon will be forever missed, but his immortal spirit will continue to influence us and his legacy lives on in all the good he did, all the lives he touched and love he shared."
The news also struck Sheriff Chad Chronister with emotion who was at a loss for words.
"I'm heartbroken knowing the void that's been created with the passing of Jonathan Black that we must fill for the community we serve and the employees we work with," he said.
"One of the most selfless people I've ever met. The guy was a warrior. He epitomizes the idea of serving to protect and he did nothing but help people. That's what he stood for. Even at his lowest point he was still serving and protecting others."
Chronister spoke highly of his work ethic and the impact he had in the office, always mentoring those around him. He said working as a detention corporal, Sgt. Black never saw people coming in as bad people. Instead he always saw it as an opportunity to help them and truly put others first.
Hundreds of uniformed deputies and HCSO personnel joined Chronister at Black's funeral at Bell Shoals Baptist on Friday (July 13). He shared a few words about Sgt. Black.
"You may have lost the battle with cancer, but cancer never beat you."
Chronister also honored Sgt. Black's legacy by announcing posthumously promoting him to the rank of sergeant on July 10, which he was working to obtain but refrained from after the death of his daughter.
Also, he continues to honor Sgt. Black's service with the formation of the Sergeant Jonathan Black Suicide Prevention and Education program in service training on Jan. 1 of 2019. It'll aim to provide the deputies training on suicide prevention, educate them on mental health, change the culture of law enforcement and remove the existing stigma that someone can't ask for help because it may reflect poorly on them.
Chronister sat with Sgt. Black on July 6, the day he told him he was at the end of the road and ready to go, and assured him the sheriff's office would always be there for his family.
Contact Monique Welch at mwelch@tampabay.com
by monique welch
Times Staff Writer
He was always willing to help, inspire and service others even at a time when he was helpless.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Jonathan Black used his Facebook page - Our Battle through Pancreatic Cancer - not only to document his journey with pancreatic cancer, but to uplift and encourage others that even life's most difficult adversities can be tackled with faith in God and positive thinking.
He also advocated for suicide prevention, and after he gave an update on his progress, he ended each post with inspirational Biblical scripture and encouraging words like "Life is worth fighting for. Give it all you can."
Doctors diagnosed Sgt. Black, a detention corporal for Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer on Nov. 24, 2017, the day after Thanksgiving
And while many families spent the 4th of July holiday barbecuing, at the beach or enjoying fireworks, The Black family spent another holiday in the hospital, watching Sgt. Black fight for his life.
Sgt. Black, 40, a selfless humanitarian who only ever asked for prayers, died among family July 8 due to complications from his Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
His wife of six years, Heather Black says after all the pain he suffered he finally seemed comfortable and wasn't afraid. He was at peace and ready to go to heaven to meet Jesus and see their daughter Emily Rose Sabow, who tragically died from carbon monoxide poisoning on Dec. 21, 2015.
"That made it a lot easier, and it's kind of relieving because I know he's not suffering anymore," she said.
"He's my warrior; he's my strength. His heart was so strong-he hung on for so long, days more than we expected him to."
She recalls some of their best days together, including their wedding day and first overnight trip alone in October of 2011 at Ruskin's Harborside Suites at Little Harbor, which was the pinnacle of their relationship.
"We had so much fun and learned so much about each other and knew after that trip there would never be an end to our relationship," she said.
The two were inseparable and literally soulmates.
After spending an entire week at Moffitt Cancer Center with him, she barely got any rest, but she said he knew how tired and delirious she was, and practically waited until she rested.
"Once he heard from me that I had slept, that was it," she said.
The news stunned his friends and colleagues.
"When I learned of his passing, I broke down with emotion," said Lt. Chris Fortner, Sgt. Black's colleague and best friend who shared a viral video of a final radio check for his friend-something traditionally done in law enforcement for deputies killed in line of duty or for firemen.
"He just had that ability, that way with people to make them feel welcome and like part of his family. He is irreplaceable, a truly unique gift from God. Jon will be forever missed, but his immortal spirit will continue to influence us and his legacy lives on in all the good he did, all the lives he touched and love he shared."
The news also struck Sheriff Chad Chronister with emotion who was at a loss for words.
"I'm heartbroken knowing the there is a void that's been created with the passing of Jonathan Black that we must fill for the community we serve and the employees we work with," he said.
"One of the most selfless people I've ever met. The guy was a warrior. He epitomizes the idea of serving to protect and he did nothing but help people. That's what he stood for. Even at his lowest point he was still serving and protecting others."
Chronister spoke highly of his work ethic and the impact he had in the office, always mentoring those around him. He said working as a detention corporal, Sgt. Black never saw people coming in as bad people. Instead he always saw it as an opportunity to help them and truly put others first.
Chronister, among several other Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office colleagues attended his funeral arrangements on Friday (July 13), at which he shared a few words about Sgt. Black.
Sheriff Chronister honored Sgt. Black's legacy by announcing posthumously promoting him to the rank of sergeant on July 10. , which he was working to obtain but refrained from after the death of his daughter.
Also, he continues to honor Sgt. Black's service with the formation of the Sergeant Jonathan Black Suicide Prevention and Education program in service training on Jan. 1 of 2019. It'll aim to provide the deputies training on suicide prevention, educate them on mental health, change the culture of law enforcement and remove the existing stigma that someone can't ask for help because it may reflect poorly on them.
Chronister sat with Sgt. Black on July 6, the day he told him he was at the end of the road and ready to go, and assured him the sheriff's office would always be there for his family.
His words to Jonathan: "You may have lost the battle with cancer, but cancer never beat you."
Contact Monique Welch at mwelch@tampabay.com