Mark B. May

Mark Barry May was born in Toronto, Canada on September 19, 1945, the son of Abraham Bryce May and Eleanor Levitt May. Mark graduated from University of Toronto High School in 1962 as an Ontario Scholar, then from University of Toronto Medical School in 1968. He completed his internship at Los Angeles County General Hospital and went on to anesthesia residency training at University of Southern California Medical Center, White Memorial Hospital and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. As a Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology, Mark practiced at the Medical Center of Tarzana from 1974 through 1978 and then moved to Coos Bay, Oregon in 1979, where he practiced anesthesia until he retired from Bay Area Hospital in 2011, after a forty-plus year career in medicine.

Mark is survived by his musically-talented wife Luanne May, son David May of Hilo, Hawaii, daughter Dr. Lisa May Olson of Portland, Oregon, and sister Dorothy Wolfson of Toronto, Canada. Mark is also survived by stepsons Trevor and Troy Edd; and by grandchildren Beckett and Felix Olson; Mallory, Sheldon, Sonya and Ethan Edd.

Mark’s hobbies included scuba diving in far-off places: Palau, Yap, Truk, the Great Barrier Reef, Tahiti, Cozumel, and Indonesia; fishing the Sixes, Elk and Coquille rivers and the big pond to the west; motorcycling especially the Libby and Seven Devils loop; camping and whitewater kayaking on the Rogue River. Also appropriate to include bagel, cream cheese and lox consumption as one of Mark’s hobbies!

Mark survived innumerable near-death experiences, above and below water, as well as on land. Mark finally succumbed to old age on February 21, 2026. He died peacefully at home surrounded by family and his ever-faithful Dachshunds.

Mark’s advice to all who follow: You’re never too old to have a happy childhood, stay young at heart always.

Mark’s greatest accomplishment in life, per him: replicating his DNA. L’Chaim (Hebrew for “to Life!”)

Per Mark’s request, in lieu of flowers or other offerings, please consider giving a donation to one of the following causes that were very dear to Mark’s heart:

• The Ocean Clean-up, to preserve the ocean habitat that Mark so loved to explore: https://theoceancleanup.com

• Morgan Creek Hatchery, at which Mark volunteered innumerable hours: https://www.morgancreekfishhatchery.org/donate.html

Mark requested not to have a memorial service. 

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