The son of River Grove’s village president died last month.
Tony May, 44, died March 27 at Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, according to a Facebook memorial page titled “Tony May Tribute.” May’s mother, River Grove Village President Marilyn J. May, said he died of a heart attack, the second one he’d had in six years.
According to Anthony “Tony” N. May’s obituary, his wife, Julia, and his mother survive him. Tony May also had a brother named Nicholas C. May that died at 21 in 1997.
“When I lost my youngest son, Tony was my strength,” said his mother, River Grove Village President Marilyn J. May. “He was my rock. He was the reason I got up every morning. That’s the kind of kid he was, just a kind soul.
“I had two great children, my sons were wonderful and now they’re together in heaven and that’s my saving grace.”
During his burial, she said those in attendance were asked to say something about Tony May.
“And one after another we heard people say he was funny, he was kind, and he was generous,” Marilyn J. May said.
She said Tony May was a member of the River Grove Lions Club and coached Little League. In the latter role, she remembered him being proudest of being able to take his team to Dreams Park in Cooperstown, Pa., in 2011.
“When he took the team there, he said it was the best time of his life and it just made his day,” said Marilyn J. May. “That’s the kind of kid he was; he loved kids.”
The family is asking those who wish to pay their respects and condolences to Tony May to donate to Michael S. DeLarco Foundation. The organization was created after the 2004 death of 10-year-old Michael DeLarco, who was struck and killed by a Metra train in River Grove. The foundation has donated to the Alexian Brothers Women and Children’s Hospital, as well as worked toward safety improvements at River Grove rail crossings.
“That foundation was very close to Tony,” said Marilyn J. May. “They were really close to Tony. He loved fundraising for them, and he admired what the family had done.”
Alex V. Hernandez is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
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