Stuart Lee May was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 10, 1943, to Harry May and Charlotte (Braunstein) May. He has been married to his wife Susan Striar May since 1973. They met, and three days later got engaged and three weeks later they were married. Stuart served honorably in the U.S. Army during Vietnam. He received his B.A. from SUNY- Oswego, Oswego, N.Y.; an M.P.A. from SUNY-Albany, Albany, N.Y.; and a Juris Doctorate from Antioch School of Law, Washington, D.C. While in Law School he worked for the U.S. Congress, House of Representatives as a Legislative and Policy Aide. After working for several senior administrative positions in New York State, he was invited in 1978 to move to West Virginia to be the Executive Director of the West Virginia Advocates for the Developmentally Disabled, Inc. (now known as Disability Rights of WV). In 1985 he changed his career path and became a Financial Advisor for over 27 years and retired in 2012 as a Senior Vice President for Wells Fargo Advisors. Stuart and Susan like to tell friends that they moved to WV for 3 years and stayed 38 years. When asked "where are you from" they answer WV, not NY. They moved to Boca Raton Florida in 2016.

Stuart served as the President of the B'nai Jacob Congregation, B'nai Brith and Federated Jewish Charities of Charleston. He also served as the President of ARC of the Three Rivers and President of the predecessor of the Disability Rights of WV, Inc. In Florida, he was an active member of Company A; a Volunteer Mentor for Take Stock in Children; and was an Ombudsman with Employee Services for the Guard and Reserves (ESGR). He served on many other non-profit Boards of Directors. Stuart and Susan have set aside funds to endow a Legal Clinic at the WVU College of Law to serve persons with Developmental Disabilities.

Stuart is survived by his wife Susan; his brother Herb (Joyce) of New York and Florida; his sister-in-law Carolyn of Monroeville, PA; several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews; and "Little Brother" Kenneth. He was predeceased by his parents, stepmothers Betty and Zelda and his kid brother Larry.

A Military funeral service took place at the South Florida Veterans National Cemetery in Lake Worth, Florida. Donations in Stuart's memory can be made to B'nai Jacob Synagogue, Disability Rights of WV, ARC of the Three Rivers, or any charity of your choice.

Published by Charleston Gazette-Mail from Feb. 10 to Feb. 8, 2024.