Community Connections – Eleanor and Montgomery May Jr.: Bringing us all together

Ellie and Monte May arrived in the Ithaca area with their daughters Marianne, Leslie, and
Patty Van de Bogart in 1970. While unpacking, they joined the Newcomers Club, taking on
roles in the club almost immediately. Many remember the fun they had at the Newcomer’s
Clubs’ Annual Pig Roast the Mays hosted their first year and for years, decades thereafter at
their family farm on Slaterville Road.

With Cornell Barns in walking distance from their own barn, the May Kids joined 4-H. As the
girls learned everything about raising pigs, sheep and horses, their parents jumped right in.
Daughter Patty Van De Bogart describes her parents’ lives as “All In!” Patty: “They were
joiners. And once in, they went all the way. Monte, our dad, became a moving force in the
evolution of 4-H Acres, serving as President of the 4-H Fair Committee.”

“During his tenure, Monte oversaw the raising of money and burning of the mortgage for the
Kiwanis Hall. Monte also advocated and raised money for a new 4-H barn, a permanent home
for 4-H activities like horse, and livestock shows, where kids could display their hard work
caring for and loving their animals (pigs, sheep, rabbits, goats).”

“Raising sheep in our home and in 4-H led our mom, Ellie, to become interested in spinning,
felting, and weaving with wool. Always a very skilled crafts person, Ellie became involved in
many fairs; especially the NY State Fair, where she volunteered to spin. She and her team of
spinners/weavers entered the “Sheep to Shawl” contest at the Troy Fair in PA. Ellie’s team
won the contest and then she became a judge. She continually widened her circle of friends
along the way. and this led to her love of spinning wool until she died in 2019.”

Monte, an electrical engineer, had always dreamed of owning his own business. In 1985 he
purchased Wheaton’s Sheet Metal Shop in Lansing.

“Monte spent a lifetime taking things apart and putting them back together. His family told him
he had a workbench by the time he was 3 years old. At 13 he had his first car. He couldn’t
drive it yet, but he took it apart and put it back together several times before he was old
enough to drive it. This curiosity is what drew him to the metal shop and all of its capabilities.”

In 1986, Patty Van de Bogart started working with Monte at the Metal Shop. During Patty’s
tenure with the business, the focus of the business changed from the Metal Shop to HVAC.
When Monte retired, Patty and John Kaminsky purchased the business from Monte.

Also, around that time, Monte became very interested in steam engines. He traveled to train
museums all over the Country. He began building them and trading/selling parts and engines
with other enthusiasts around the world. “He joined FingerLakes Live Steamers in Clyde, NY.
An organization of steam enthusiasts who come together to share their interest in steam
engines, and to create and build track to ride their trains on.

The Club is also interested in educating the public about steam, including inviting the public to come to the Club, twice a year, and ride a “train.” In 2024 Ellie and Monte were awarded a Lifetime Membership, to honor their many years of service to the growth of this organization.

The May children remember their parents’ devotion to the Friends of the Library Association.
Ellie joined in the mid 70’s and became a ‘rough sorter’, the first step in organizing donated
books to go into various sections: Children, Poetry, Sports, Maps, etc…”Buyers lined up
outside the opening session would run to their favorite section and grab up new
treasures…Over the decades, Ellie served as Sorter, President and Treasurer. and Monte
was President, Treasurer and Chair of the Building Committee…”

“Monte oversaw the selection of Friends’ permanent home on Esty Street, near Ithaca
Bakery. Then he oversaw the renovation of that building and the move! In 2013 Ellie and
Monte were honored as Life Members for their devotion and service to share books and
community building in this community.”

After raising a crop of kids of their own, Monte having run his own business, Ellie, a renowned
school nurse–the Mays’ lives were full and rich. After their retirement, while engaging in so
many community groups, Carol John contacted Monte with an idea she had to fix wheelchairs
and make them more affordable, available, accessible for anyone in search of a chair. Monte,
along with Carol and Ardith (Ardie) Bennett launched Wonderful Wheelchairs. This amazing
project is located in an immense basement beneath Cayuga Nursing and Rehabilitation
Center. Locals and out of towners are welcome to borrow, rent, buy wheelchairs, walkers,
motorized scooters.

If Ellie and Monte ever sat down and relaxed, they might have been glimpsed at Stewart Park.
In the 80’s these two senior citizens, unusually busy (with Friends of the Library, and
Fingerlakes Live Steam, Wool Spinning, 4-H Acres, Wonderful Wheelchairs + Kids) started
worrying about the decline of the much loved Stewart Park Merry-Go-Round.

Patty: “It was never about making money; they believed the beautiful, historic carousel had
been ridden and loved by children and their families for decades. It was a part of our
community. So, they bought the Carousel in 1983…First, they replaced the canopy, then
Annie Campbell painted horses in the showroom of Wheaton’s in 1986. Ellie and Monte hired
local high school students and school staff to operate the carousel in the summers until 1998.
Every Memorial Day and Labor Day each year, the Mays ran the carousel themselves, and
made sure every eager child got on. In 1998 an anonymous donor bought the Merry-Go-
Round and donated it to the City of Ithaca.”

The May children also mentioned what a great cook their mother was. Their parents would
deliver dinners to friends who were unable to cook, or were lonely. It was just part of dinner to
set aside a lovely meal and drop it off to someone who needed their spirits lifted.

Was there anything else Ellie and Monte were “All in On”? Patty: “Yes, both of our parents
believed in serving their community. Monte spent 15 years on the Planning Board for the
Town of Ithaca, half of it as the Chairman. He helped negotiate the agreement with the City to
have one fire department cover both communities and a land swap with the City to bring the
Youth Bureau inside the city limits and provide a site for the Tompkins County Chamber of
Commerce Building. Ellie served on the Board of the Office of the Aging and volunteered at
Lifelong. Ellie did taxes for seniors, traveling to their home, so shut-ins were able to get their
taxes prepared. She was also a HICAP counselor helping seniors determine the best health
care plans.”

“Ellie and Monte believed ‘It takes a village’ to raise healthy children and support all families
and all community members.” Ellie and Monte’s generous and energetic efforts are part of
our lives today and will be built upon when we follow in their footsteps.