PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
by News Release
PMA notes with sadness the passing of longtime board member Jack May of Berwyn, who died on March 23, 2008 of heart failure at his second home in Hobe Sound, Florida. Former chairman and longtime partner of the Philadelphia law firm Duane Morris, he was a civic activist and accomplished golfer. Born in Michigan in 1928, A. John May grew up in Selinsgrove and was educated at Mercersburg Academy.
Mr. May attended Princeton University on an ROTC scholarship and later served in the Army in Korea from 1951 to 1952 with the 18th Airborne Corps and 45th Infantry Division, achieving the rank of Captain. He served with the 28th Infantry Division in the Pennsylvania National Guard from 1954 to 1957.
Immediately after graduating from Harvard Law School in 1954, Mr. May joined Duane Morris L.L.P., where he worked for 54 years, building a well-earned reputation as a great mentor and lawyer. During his career, Mr. May become the "lawyer of choice" for many of the firm's largest corporate clients. Mr. May established the firm's corporate law division, became partner in 1963, served as vice chairman from 1984 to 1988 and chairman from 1989 through 1994. He retired on Dec. 31, 1998, becoming "of counsel" to the firm.
Mr. May was the former chairman of the board and director of PMA Capital Corporation. He was also a key lawyer and advisor to Bethlehem's First Valley Bank, which is now part of Bank of America. He also worked with Urban Engineers, Inc.
Mr. May lived for 44 years in Berwyn, where he served on the Easttown Township Zoning Board, Board of Supervisors, and the planning commission. He was honored by the township's supervisors in 1988 for three decades of service.
A passionate golfer, Mr. May was a founder of Waynesborough Country Club in Paoli and Stonewall in Elverson, where he remained active in daily operations until his death. He was also a member at Pine Valley for many years.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Gwendolyn; his daughters Ann Moore, Susan Eckman and Elizabeth Gieske; his son, A. John May III; and fourteen grandchildren. All four of Mr. May's children are lawyers.
