Montgomery “Monte” May Jr.

Montgomery “Monte” May Jr. passed away peacefully on March 4, 2026, at the age of 93. A devoted husband, father, engineer, and community volunteer, Monte brought his curiosity, ingenuity, warmth, and generosity to everything he did. Known for his remarkable ability to fix nearly anything, he used his talents to enrich the lives of his family and the community he loved.

Born on July 15, 1932, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Lucille and Montgomery May, Monte showed an early fascination with tools and mechanics, receiving his first workbench at age three and his first car at thirteen. He served in the United States Navy in the 1950s and met the love of his life, Eleanor Jean Porter, at a church youth group in Chicago, Illinois. After a period of friendship, during which he set her up on dates with his friends, they married on August 17, 1957. Their partnership was marked by mutual support and shared adventures, including a move to Rolla, Missouri, where Monte earned a degree in electrical engineering from the School of Mines with Ellie’s steadfast help. In 1970, they settled in Ithaca, New York, where they built a home and a welcoming community until Ellie’s passing in 2019.

Monte worked for many years at Morse Chain and then Emerson before purchasing Wheaton’s Sheet Metal Shop in Lansing, New York. He ran the business with his daughter Patty as a heating and air-conditioning company, where his engineering skills and problem-solving abilities earned the appreciation of customers. In retirement, he and Ellie devoted years of leadership to the Friends of the Tompkins County Public Library Association, serving in roles including president, treasurer, and chair of the building committee. He played a key part in selecting and renovating the organization’s permanent home on Esty Street. Monte also helped establish Wonderful Wheelchairs, an initiative that repaired and distributed mobility equipment to those in need, finding deep satisfaction in using his skills to improve others’ lives.

A passionate enthusiast of steam engines and their history, Monte was an active member of the Finger Lakes Live Steamers in Clyde, New York, where he built, restored, and operated model steam engines and trains. Above all, his family remained the center of his world. He and Ellie raised three daughters—Marianne Lucille, Leslie Jean, and Patricia Ellen—who grew up knowing their father could repair or build almost anything. Monte is survived by his daughter Patty Van de Bogart and her husband Ray, daughter Marianne May-Rodda and her husband Phil, and son-in-law Charlie Mettler, widower of their oldest daughter Leslie. He also leaves behind grandchildren Dan and Natalie “Lili” Van de Bogart, Sam and Benny May-Rodda, adopted family Abby and Mendel Breitstein and their children Aryeh, Ezra, Noam, Meital, Amram, and Tehila, along with extended family and a wide circle of friends whose lives were touched by his kindness, intelligence, and generous spirit.