Bruce May died April 23, 2015. He was born March 27, 1937 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Bernard May and Ruth Scheuman May. He graduated from Western Hills High School and attended Ohio Wesleyan University on a football scholarship. After serving in the U.S. Army from Feb. 1958 thru 1960. He graduated with a zoology degree from Ohio State University in 1963. This was followed by a Masters degree in aquatic biology from Ohio State University in 1966.
Bruce married Carol Figaretti in 1963. His first fisheries biologist job was in North Carolina. In 1969 he landed his dream job as a fisheries biologist for the State of Montana working on the Kootenai River before and after the Libby Dam was constructed. Bruce and Carol divorced in 1978. The Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks moved Bruce to Kalispell in 1982 to conduct the fisheries study for Hungry Horse Reservoir.
Bruce met Elaine Snyder in 1985 and they were married in 1989. Bruce took early retirement in 1990 which meant gardening, hunting, fishing, cross country skiing, hiking & backpacking into high mountain lakes to fish with Elaine or friends.
Bruce was also an avid volunteered. This included acting as Flathead Democratic precinct person and county chairman from 1994-95 and serving on the boards of Flathead Wildlife and the Flathead Chapter of the Montana Wilderness Association. He wrote numerous letters to the editor on topics from wilderness & timber harvest to human rights.
Bruce loved wild Montana and defended it. In 1977-78 Bruce was subpoena to testify on behalf of fish in Federal District Court in Butte. Bruce was an expert witness for the Libby Rod & Gun Club in their suit against the Army Corp of Engineers attempt to re-regulate Libby Dam. He also lobbied and testified in Washington, D.C. to stop the proposed Kootenai Falls Dam. The free flowing Kootenai Falls exists today due to the efforts of Bruce and the Libby Rod and Gun Club.
Bruce was diagnosed with dementia in 2009 and suffered a stroke in 2011. Since July 2014, he has resided at Edgewood Vista Assisted Living with Hospice care this last month.
Bruce is preceded in death by his parents and several faithful dogs.
He is survived by his wife Elaine Snyder; sisters Connie (Wes) of Cincinnati, Susan (Joe) of Wesley Chapel, Florida ,Mary Ann (Larry) of Fort Lauderdale Florida; several nieces & nephews; step-daughter Gina of Libby, grandchildren Darby and Carson, along with Elaine’s three brothers and two sisters.
In lieu of flowers send donations in Bruce May’s name to The Nature Conservancy of Montana, 32 South Ewing, Helena, Mt. 59601.
Cremation has taken place. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home has a condolence registry.
A celebration of Bruce’s life will be held Sunday, June 7, 2015 at the Whitefish Community Center, 121 2 nd Street, Whitefish, Mt. from 3-6pm. Bring a potluck dish and your stories to share.