Milwaukee honors the life and legacy of Elizabeth "Bo" Black

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee-area community gathered today, on July 9, to celebrate the life and legacy of a Summerfest icon.

Elizabeth "Bo" Black died on July 2020, but her memorial service was postponed for two years due to COVID.

She presided over Summerfest when it started out as a local festival and then became an international phenomenon.

Former Brewers manager Tom Trebelhorn was married to Black for 20 years.

He said Milwaukee meant everything to her.

"She loved the city. She loved the vitality, the ethnicity and the different folks," said Trebelhorn. "Her time here was the highlight of her life for sure. "She always kept track of folks here and always cared about what was going on and had some kind of life."

Under Black's leadership, she opened up the Marcus Amphitheater and expanded Summerfest to include a number of ethnic festivals.

Even though she left Summerfest 19 years ago, Black will always be identified with the 'Big Gig'.