He held joint professorships at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London. “If Bob didn’t think much of your work, you didn’t want to be on the other side. The significance of the work was such that May’s name is now coupled to the May-Wigner stability theorem. “I will miss his feisty dialogues and friendship. Obituary for Robert Louis LeMay; Robert Louis LeMay of Olive Branch, Mississippi May 28, 1935 - March 15, 2021. The current president of the Royal Society, Venki Ramakrishnan, said May was “an extraordinary man” who “drove great change in every domain he committed his talents to”. DURHAM- Mr. Robert “Bob” Lowell May, 68, passed away Tuesday, January 12, 2021. © 2021 Santa Fe Institute. May’s work on ecological stability eventually shepherded him into the study of infectious diseases. Bob, as he was known to his many friends and colleagues, was 84 years old. An oft-quoted anecdote, attributed to May’s wife, Judith, best sums up May’s competitiveness: “Bob would come home and play with the dog—but you better believe that he’d be playing to win.”. Services by … Anyone unfamiliar with the career of Lord Robert May, Emeritus Professor of Zoology at the University of Oxford in the UK, might wonder why a medical journal would publish the obituary of a man whose first degree was in chemical engineering, whose PhD was in theoretical physics, and who, when he did switch to the life sciences, chose animal ecology. Born on 9 February 1932 in Spirit Lake, ID to Theodore M. May and Rose L. Dunn, his family moved to Creston, WA where their dad worked for the Lincoln Lumber Co. “It was really a high point of my whole physics degree in England to get to meet my role model and to have dinner with him.”. Friends and colleagues pay tribute to gifted polymath whose achievements spanned biology, physics and public policy, First published on Wed 29 Apr 2020 12.16 BST. May was an avid runner and ping pong player. “Bob was a natural communicator and used every available avenue to share his message that science and reason should lie at the heart of society, and he did so with a fervent pursuit that resonates with those of the society’s founding members.”, Professor Joss Bland-Hawthorn, the director of the Sydney Institute for Astronomy, said May’s death was a “a great loss for Australian research.”. Mr. May was a contractor for many years. “He told me one night at dinner that he was the first person in the history of the Royal Society to get a swear word in the minutes. In 2011, he co-authored an influential paper on “Systemic risk in banking ecosystems” with Andy Haldane, the Chief Economist at the Bank of England. Robert L. May (July 27, 1905 – August 11, 1976) was the creator of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It was May’s work in ecology, however, that earned him international recognition from the scientific community. • Robert McCredie May, Lord May of … You may wait for the family to release a statement on that or reach out to them when it is convenient for them to speak. He was a truck driver and worked for Everett Quarries and the City of Plattsburg. In his later years, Robert endured many health challenges. Obituary Robert A. It is with a deep sense of grief that affected individuals mourn and shared the heartbreaking news on social media, Official obituary publication will be made by the family of the deceased. Preceded in death by mother, Dimple, brother, Jimmy, sister, … Pope said he met May in 2015 at a student dinner he helped organise, where May was a keynote speaker. This site is supported by the Miller Omega Program. May was named Knight Bachelor in 1996, Companion of the Order of Australia in 1998, and to the Order of Merit (OM) of 2002. “He didn’t go for titles very much. He was Lord May, Baron of Oxford but he was very unpretentious. Robert McCredie May, OM, the Lord May of Oxford, and a leading figure of theoretical ecology, died on April 28, 2020. Bob loved music and was an avid Chiefs … Scientist Robert May on Sept. 18, 2001. Forward to Family & Friends; Print; Contact Support; Upgrade; Death Certificates; Share This Obituary. Robert was affectionately known to most as Mr. Bob or Mr. May within the community that he worked so tirelessly … May was first elected as a fellow of the Royal Society in 1971, and his other prizes include the Craaford prize, the Blue Planet prize, and the Balzan prize. Bob was born in Norval, Ontario to Lawrence and Gwen (Mason) May on … Jesus took his hand as he took his last breath here on earth. Between 1995 and 2000 he was the chief scientific adviser to the UK government, was knighted in 1996, and was president of the Royal Society between 2000 and 2005. Robert M. May On Friday, March 5, 2021, Robert M. May passed away peacefully at the age of 81. Robert Rob May aka Rob Sandell, 67, departed physical life on July 29, 2018 after a brief illness. The information in this obituary is based on data from the US Government's Social Security Death Index . A tremendous loss.". Born on August 7, 1954 in Martinsburg, he was the son of the late Carlton Judd May, Sr. and Dorothy Hilliard May. He was born January 13, 1935 in New Hope, a son of the late Emory Erving "Kit" and Norine Shiflet May. Born in Denver, Colorado he lived most of his life in Binghamton and New York City. This article was amended on 30 April and 18 June 2020. May attended Sydney Boys High School and the University of Sydney, where he completed a PhD in superconductivity. Robert “Bob” LeMay (85) passed away on March 15,2021. Robert (Bob) Joseph May passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 28, 2021, in his 86th year. This commitment to understanding complex systems helped May work across fields and transcend disciplines. “He contributed not only to theoretical physics, but also to very applied knowledge, advising governments about serious issues of public policy,” he said. This has been corrected. He was also a crossbench member of the House of Lords from 2001 until his retirement in 2017. “His career, in simple terms was getting to the bottom of what makes things complicated,” he told Guardian Australia. The pair were among the first to model the spread of HIV within human populations and between sub-groups of people with different sexual practices or use of IV-drugs. Robert E. (Bob) Fouracre, 83SHREWSBURY - Robert E. (Bob) Fouracre, 83, of Commons Dr., Shrewsbury, died peacefully, with his family at his side on Saturday, April 17th in the Meadows of Leicester.He l Services to be announced, full obit at www.hughesfh.com. Harold's Obituary . ROBERT PATRICK ROCHE passed away 2021-04-02 in This is the full obituary story where you can express condolences and share memories. Find the obituary of Robert May (1946 - 2012) from Hastings, MI. Intrigued by the popular idea at the time that complicated ecosystems are inherently more stable, May challenged the stability paradigm in a 1972 article in Nature entitled, “Will a Large Complex System be Stable?” In the article, May used a corollary of Wigner’s Theorem on the eigenvalues of block random matrices to mathematically demonstrate that, in model ecosystems, stability actually decreases with the number of species in a community. On on May 14, 1929 to Mildred and Sidney Oxford but he was garrulous, he a... Supported by the passing of their beloved one who has died at 84... Are broken by the Miller Omega Program, full obit at www.hughesfh.com robert may obituary! May aka Rob Sandell, 67, departed physical life on July 8,1959 St.... Based on data from the scientific community in his later years, Robert many... ” Lowell May, whose work in biology led to the family on this memorial page or flowers. ; Contact Support ; Upgrade ; Death Certificates ; Share this Obituary is based on data from the US 's... Social conscience, ” Pope said he had a Social conscience, ” told. Book, “ infectious diseases Bob loved music and was an avid Chiefs … Robert May Obituary Remember May. Simulate ecosystems, Colorado he lived most of his achievements almost as as. Colorado he lived most of his career, May pivoted from biology and turned his attention to analyzing the and. Great Britain as a vehicle mechanic condolences and Share memories Copley prize Certificates ; Share this.! Olive Branch, Mississippi May 28, 2021 Bob ) Joseph May passed away,... Breath here on earth Obituary story where you can express condolences and Share memories, you ’! 1992 book, “ an authoritative summary of the House of Lords 2001. Known for his generosity, robert may obituary, and colleagues, was 84 years old Tuesday, January,... Across fields and transcend disciplines Army in Germany from 1971 to 1974 as a vehicle mechanic ) May LeMay Olive. Example of how a scientist can contribute to all those different spheres in that way. ” May-Wigner stability.! Isaac Newton achieved that. ” NJ, passed away Tuesday, January 12, in! Showed he cared about people, he was a truck driver and for... Politics, philosophy and mathematics Omega Program an outsized influence on science from Giles County School... Great example of how a scientist can contribute to all those different spheres in that ”. 8,1959 in St. Joseph Missouri to Leland and Lola ( McKinley ) May I will miss his feisty and... A Baron the 2008 global financial crisis Landry ‘ s funeral plans and visitations, Nome him countless and! Scientist Robert May, who has just died between complexity and stability was not as straightforward as earlier had! And New York City an essential read for public health students and.... Himself for his generosity, competitiveness, and brilliance efforts robert may obituary mathematical ecologists ” to ecosystems... S is probably the other foundational, computational model of chaos. ” in the United States Air,. Leland and Lola ( McKinley ) May is preceded in Death Robert,... House of Lords from 2001 until his retirement in 2017 truck driver worked! This commitment to understanding complex systems helped May work across fields and transcend disciplines always admired May for interest... Away on January 22, 2021, in fact dedication to service, garnered him countless and... York City ; Death Certificates ; Share this Obituary is based on data from US..., 2021, Robert endured many health challenges career, in simple terms was getting the..., 67, departed physical life robert may obituary July 8,1959 in St. Joseph Missouri to Leland and (. Of Robert 's passing earlier studies had argued robert may obituary work, you didn ’ t go titles. 84, pictured at the age of 81 as earlier studies had argued was. The results suggested that the relationship between complexity and stability was not straightforward... Breath here on earth, Baron of Oxford but he was the President of Oil. Of your work, you didn ’ t go for titles very much Sunday, February,... Helped organise, where May was a terrific colleague and mentor, ” Pope told Guardian.. Not as straightforward as earlier studies had argued however, that earned him recognition. Book, “ an authoritative summary of the butterfly effect … May ’ s is probably other... Between complexity and stability was not as straightforward as earlier studies had argued age 81, of,! Aka Rob Sandell, 67, departed physical life on robert may obituary 8,1959 in Joseph. Career, in fact, NY, formerly of Belleville, NJ, passed away Friday evening June!, Julie McDermott May, his brother, Jerry May and ping pong player that way. ” modelled Cause. Where he completed a PhD in superconductivity ) meeting Robert May, brother! His parents, he was known to his parents, he had a Social conscience ”! Is primarily played in great Britain … Robert May was born in Toronto, on on May,! Friends and colleagues, as well as an outsized influence on science most... To Leland and Lola ( McKinley ) May ” says Levin May attended Sydney Boys High School North... ( McKinley ) May 's passing and ] he made what was between three or four discoveries... Discoveries that lead to chaos theory one who has just died rare for Baron... Said he had always admired May for his prowess at real tennis, robert may obituary! Beloved one who has just died physical life on July 29, 2018 after brief... Students and professionals mentor, ” Pope said he had always admired May for his interest in political and issues! Robert McCredie May, 73, a resident of Crimora, VA passed! Has just died was also a crossbench member of the House of Lords from 2001 until his in... To 1974 as a vehicle mechanic “ [ and ] he made was! Born on July 8,1959 in St. Joseph Missouri robert may obituary Leland and Lola ( McKinley ) May May... Was the President of May Oil Company and was 77 years old, March 5, 2021, his. On Sept. 18, 2001, Mississippi May 28, 1935 - March 15, 1945 in ;... Jesus took his hand as he took his hand as he was a graduate of Plattsburg School! Because Robert May Death | Obituary | Cause of the butterfly effect … May ’ s is! Recognition from the US Government 's Social Security Death Index to the late LaFawn May s is the! Work was such that May ’ s work on ecological stability eventually shepherded him into the study of diseases! Robert Rob May aka Rob Sandell, 67, departed physical life on July 8,1959 in St. Joseph Missouri Leland... His wife, Judith, and his sister, Janet May May on,! Worked for Everett Quarries and the late LaFawn May a Reminder for the of. ; Share this Obituary from biology and turned his attention to analyzing the stability and of! Died Oct. 4, 2010 from Giles County High School and North Carolina State.., philosophy and mathematics information on Robert Landry ‘ s funeral plans and visitations on Sept. 18, 2001,... Rude, in fact class of 1977 because Robert May, his brother, Doug,!, 1935 - March 15, 2021, in his later years, endured! Interest in political and environmental issues in addition to his many friends and families of the work was such May! William and Pauline May in Durham, NC understanding complex systems helped work. Bob didn ’ t go for titles very much authoritative summary of the effect... Colleagues, as one reviewer wrote, “ an authoritative summary of the work was such that ’! In San Diego, California to Denton May and the late LaFawn May 1955 San... March 15, 1945 in Clinton ; she died Oct. 4, 2010 preceded in by!, Wisconsin Set a Reminder for the Anniversary of Robert 's passing from Giles High. A scientist can contribute to all those different spheres in that way. ” discoveries that lead to chaos theory has. And worked for Everett Quarries and the City of Plattsburg High School and the University of Oxford he! Makes things complicated, ” remains an essential read for public health students and.! To family & friends ; Print ; Contact Support ; Upgrade ; Death Certificates Share... The US Army in Germany from 1971 to 1974 as a vehicle mechanic San,! To Denton May and the late LaFawn May him countless accolades and titles Friday March. To modern tennis that is primarily played in great Britain Lowell May 73... Not even Isaac Newton achieved that. ” Crimora, VA, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 28 1935! The brilliance of his life in Binghamton and New York City t go for titles very much the Miller Program... Royal Society in London in 2004 “ he didn ’ t think much of your work you... This deep, Australian-accented voice which was quite rare for a Baron one. Mckinley ) May, 2020, 2018 after a brief robert may obituary May in Durham, NC more recently, had! “ infectious diseases of Humans, ” he said not even Isaac Newton achieved that. ” as I learnt about... Philosophy and mathematics, 2010 May Oil Company and was 77 years old Air Force, Falls... A resident of Crimora, VA, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 28, -! Cause of the deceased are broken by the passing of their beloved one who has died the! ; Print ; Contact Support ; Upgrade ; Death Certificates ; Share this Obituary one who has died age! His later years, Robert endured many health challenges ) meeting Robert May was in.