He attended ISCLS meetings from 1966 to 2000 and he was the first to be awarded Distinguished Service Member s hip of the society . He was also as we all know an amazing pioneer and exponent of Ortho_K . His obituary makes fascinating reading not least of which is his relatively recent reuniting with his first wife in 2007. Charles was an amazing and adventurous researcher particularly into remodelling corneas either temporarily or permanently . Older members of the society have missed his eloquent speeches.
Dr. Charles Harrison May, born on August 5, 1922, in Allegan, Michigan, passed away on July 7, 2011 at home in San Diego, CA, after a long illness. He is survived by his wife, Frann, whom he married October 27, 1951 and reunited with her again May 16, 2007, their daughters, Michelle and Renee, their grandsons, Sasha and Charlie and extended family members.
Charles was a veteran of World War II and proudly served in the U.S. Navy, in the Pacific as a Lieutenant in the Medical Corps. He attended Cornell and Notre Dame Universities for Officer Training, UC Berkeley, and the Illinois College of Optometry.
He was a featured speaker at the first International Contact Lens Conference in 1957 and was bestowed the title of the “Grandfather of Orthokeratology” by Dr. Leonard Bronstein at the third annual Bronstein Awards Dinner in 2007. Dr. May spent over 60 years pursuing the art and science of contact lenses and authored books on Orthokeratology and related subjects. Responsible for countless contact lens innovations and advancements, Dr. May was known internationally and was an invited speaker and teacher in countries around the world; his many accomplishments and contributions to his field are too numerous to mention here.
Dr. May’s avocation was sailing; his favorite and most recent boat, Sagacious, a Columbia 50, claimed numerous victories in San Diego races. Wednesday was race day at the San Diego Yacht Club, with the afternoon “Gentleman’s Race” competition among longtime friends. The day was complete after the evening “Beer Can Series” in which Sagacious and Dr. May’s crew of many years won the coveted “Beer Can” trophies for their division.
Very important to Dr. May were his canine friends: Gracie, C.C., Sailor, Maggie and Cali. It was his wish that donations be made to the Helen Woodward Animal Center, the ASPCA, and similar organizations.
The May family wishes to thank the Medical and other Staff at Scripps Mercy Hospital including everyone at the MICU, Dr. Jeffrey Williams, Dr. Tanaz Kahen-Biton, Dr. Jeofrey Gordon, and the Medical Team of San Diego Hospice, all who went above and beyond in caring for Charles.
Live as Charles would want you to live: “Carpe Diem”; “Do not sweat the small stuff and it is all small stuff .”
Please sign the Guest Book at www.mem.com under Charles May, born August 5, 1922.
Published in San Diego Union-Tribune on July 24, 2011