“He was outgoing and always lent a hand to whoever needed it. He was a special kind of guy.”
The Borough of Palmyra lost an influential member of the community on Sept. 10. Longtime resident Jim May, 80, passed away due to a massive heart attack, not long after returning from celebrating his 58th wedding anniversary with his wife, Annamarie.
May, born on Aug. 10, 1937, grew up in Maple Shade and later graduated from Moorestown High School. A Rutgers graduate with a bachelor’s of science degree, May also took classes at Richard Stockton University, Rowan University and Temple University. An avid student of the environment and urban planning, May also participated in Rutgers University’s Master Gardeners program. May taught people tips on gardening and background on the activity itself.
“Jim was the man who would give you the shirt off of his back,” Annamarie said. “It’s still a shock to us all that he is no longer with us.”
May retired after 40 years with the Pennzoil Corporation, where he was a chemist, researcher, lubrication engineer and salesman. He served on Borough Council for nine years and the Planning Board for 30 years. He was chairman of the Burlington County Young Republican Committee, president of the Palmyra Historical and Cultural Society and a member of the Clean Air Council, Employers Legislative Committee, and worked to build and ensure the preservation of the sand dunes in Ocean City. He also helped to start the recycling program of the Tri-Borough area with the Pompeston Environmental Committee.
“Mr. May is one of those bigger-than-life type of people that you expect to always be around,” borough administrator John Gural said. “His passing is very sad and a great loss, not just for his family and friends, but for Palmyra as well. He’ll be sorely missed but he’ll always remain a fixture in our community.”
In retirement, May worked to educate everyone on the fate of the red knot bird and the Northeast Coast’s horseshoe crabs, as well as becoming an environmental steward in Burlington County. He also enjoyed trips down the Shore, where he had a beautiful garden that received remarks from plenty of people, his daughter, Vicky Basgil, said.
“He was the type of man who always kept his word,” Basgil said. “He held the door for every person, showed respect to everyone, was a true gentleman, enjoyed talking a lot, and was everything you wanted to be deep down.”
Former Mayor Bob Leather served with May during his time in the borough from 1988 to 2002. He remembers May’s active lifestyle both in and out of the community.
“From the late 80s to late 90s, I served with Jim on Borough Council,” Leather said. “He was always hard-working, and available to whoever needed him. He was outgoing and always lent a hand to whoever needed it. He was a special kind of guy.”
May is survived by his wife Annamarie, and their children, Victoria and James, and grandchildren, Thomas, Rachel, Winifred, Spencer and Lionel.
More than 500 of May’s friends and family paid their respects on Friday, Sept. 15 and Saturday, Sept. 16 at Christ Church in Riverton.
