Arthur O. Black, who founded an electronics company in his garage and pursued a wide variety of activities outside of work, died Sunday at Allegheny General Hospital of Parkinson's disease. He was 85.

"He really was a Renaissance man," said Carolyn Black, who was married to Mr. Black for 15 years. In addition to founding Magnetics Inc. in East Butler, he was a sportsman, a jazz and classical music fan, and loved politics and history.

On his property in Butler Township, Mr. Black enjoyed tending to his horses and riding through the woods or walking on his farm, said Mrs. Black.

Arthur Black was born to Effie and Arthur Black on June 25, 1920. He later moved to Mercer Road in Butler where he lived for most of 70 years. He also spent many winters in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Mr. Black graduated from Butler High School, where he was president of his 1938 class. He attended Washington & Jefferson College and graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1943. With his degree in electrical engineering, Mr. Black went to Washington, D.C., to work at the Naval Ordnance Lab. He worked on magnetic mine technology during World War II.

In 1949, Mr. Black returned to Butler and began his own one-man electronics components company in a rented garage. The company manufactured metals, electrical components and industrial control systems that were used by the military and other electronics industries in satellites, computers and other programs.

Mr. Black was president for 20 years until the company was taken over by Spang Power Electronics. He later became CEO of National Underground Storage in Boyers until his retirement.

Mr. Black was involved in many activities and organizations, including the boards of Butler Consumer Discount Co. and United Telephone Service. He was a longtime member of the Duquesne Club; served on the board of directors of Butler County Community College; and was president of the college's Education Foundation.

Bill Speido, a friend and fellow community college board member, said Mr. Black was a wonderful leader who was very generous with his gifts and encouraged others to do the same.

He was a warm and witty individual who did not speak much unless he had something important to say, said his wife. "He truly had a gift of words. He did not use a lot of words; he just used the right words."

In addition to his wife, Mr. Black is survived by his sister, Carolyn "Susie" Tomlinson of New Orleans; daughters Susan Campbell of New Zealand and Christine Taylor of Butler; son Art Black III of Renfrew; stepsons Jeffrey Heaton of Baton Rouge, La., and James Heaton of Hampton; stepdaughter Leslie Dixon of Milwaukee; four grandchildren and 10 step-grandchildren.

Funeral services were yesterday. The family asks that contributions be made to the Butler County Community College Education Foundation.