Trudi Marie Black
Trudi Marie Black nee Schuierer died peacefully in Bridgeport Hospital on Wednesday February 17, 2020 at the age of 72. Trudi is survived by her husband of 52 years, Larry ( Lauren) Black, her son, Jason Black and his wife Beth Black, along with their children Evan and Henry, and her son Benjamin Black along with his children Avery, Connor, and Ryan and their mother Jillian Black.
Trudi was born on March 5, 1948 in Hartford, CT to Ludwig Schuierer and Hedwig Schuierer nee Horst. Her biological father died when she was only 3. Her mother remarried when Trudi was 10 to Bernard Hutchings who raised her as his daughter. She grew up in Rockville, CT, involved with her Lutheran Church, Rainbow Girls, lifeguarding and volunteering with people with special needs. She went on to attend Southern Connecticut State College ( now University) studying Special Education. She met Larry there and they married in 1968. She later went on to earn a Master’s degree there as well.
Trudi and Larry spent the early years of their marriage on Air Force bases in Mississippi and Illinois while Larry served and she worked as a teacher. They then moved to Trumbull, CT and lived there for the remainder of her life. In that home they raised their children and many dogs.
Trudi worked as a Special Ed teacher in Trumbull Public Schools for 37 years touching the lives of thousands of students. She was an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma and in 1984 she was awarded the Helen Keller- Ann Sullivan Award by the CEA. She was a Board Member of the Greater Bridgeport Retired Teachers Association.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Monroe has been their church home since the 1970’ s with its members very much a part of her family. Trudi was an important lay leader of the Church serving in countless roles over the years as well as representative to the Greater Bridgeport Council of Churches. Together with Larry, Trudi launched the Special Needs Program at Camp Calumet Lutheran. Trudi often worked with the Salvation Army and frequently took the lead organizing community outreach programs, encouraging others to share their gifts.
Trudi was a cancer survivor who supported many others in their battles with cancer over the years. She loved knitting and crafting gifts for loved ones and was a voracious reader.
Trudi was an active presence in her son’s lives supporting them in their activities such as marching band, scouting and a capella. She communicated regularly with countless people. Trudi served as a mentor to many teachers “adopting” them into her family. In later years, Trudi and Larry enjoyed traveling the world together with a core group of close friends. Trudi loved spending time with her grandchildren and they were always in her heart.
A memorial service for Trudi will be held in the coming months once people can safely celebrate her life together. Info will be posted to Facebook, the CT Post and on mullinsfh. com at a later date. Gifts to honor Trudi can be to any charity that speaks to who Trudi was in your life - let us know what you chose and why. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Cyril F. Mullins Funeral Home, 399 White Plains Rd. Trumbull. To leave an online condolence visit mullinsfh.com.