Thomas H. May |
| Posted 2009-12-05 by Pat Wilson |
| Longtime Central Pennsylvania Dauphin school director Thomas H. May, 62, died last week in Arizona of complications from triple bypass surgery he underwent while on vacation. May and his wife, Margit, had been on a four-week vacation in Cave Creek, Arizona, visiting their son, William, for Thanksgiving and the baptism of their newborn granddaughter, Erika Anne. The couple were to have returned home Dec. 14, but May had to undergo emergency surgery at Paradise Valley Hospital on Nov. 30, 1994. He died three weeks later while still recuperating at his son's home. He had served on Central Dauphin's school board for eight years, and was known as one of the fiscally conservative directors. But May also was "an advocate for children," said Superintendent Carolyn Dumaresq. "He weighed the expense with the needs of the children. He looked hard at data and always asked the right questions," Dumaresq said. Then, he made what he believed was the best decision for the children and taxpayers. May was a key player in the board's decision to proceed with a multimillion renovation project to reduce class sizes. He was the board's delegate to Harrisburg Area Community College. "He was very calm and patient. And he always listened," Dumaresq said. "He might not share the views of other board members, but he always listened to them. And when a vote didn't go his way, he moved on. He didn't hold a grudge. That's a wonderful attribute for a school board member." May was also a gifted engineer, having earned degrees from Lehigh and Yale universities. He was retired as a senior civil engineer from the PennDOT, but used his knowledge of the profession when reviewing plans for the school board. While recuperating in Arizona, May had sent the school district a letter announcing his resignation as a director, due to health reasons. His resignation was to have taken effect Jan. 1. As a father, he was fair and loving and always sought to see both sides of a story. "He had a wonderful sense of humor," said his son, William. "We called it an intelligent sarcasm . . . you had to pay attention to get it." May did see his granddaughter baptized before he underwent surgery. "We're happy about that. We keep saying, that's one good thing." He also was former vice president of the Central Dauphin Area Income Tax Office; an Army veteran of the Korean War; a past president of the Central Pennsylvania Section, American Society of Civil Engineers; and a member, choir member, former council member and former Sunday School superintendent of St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lower Paxton Twp. Surviving, in addition to his wife and son, are another son, David T. of Delray, Fla.; two daughters, Cindy R. of Westminster, Md., and Heidi M. of Cape Hatteras, N.C.; two sisters, Mary Ellen Bednar of Staten Island, N.Y., and Margaret Ruth Andariese of Berlin, N.J.; and four grandchildren. Services were held Thursday in his church. Burial Friday in Bethel Cemetery, Merchantville, N.J. Zimmerman-Auer Funeral Home, Lower Paxton Twp., PA, handled arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to his church, 4200 Londonderry Road, Harrisburg 17109; Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 214 State St., Harrisburg 17101; or American Cancer Society, Dauphin Unit, 1500 N. Second St., Harrisburg 17102. Arizona Republic December 28, 1994 |
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