'He Will Be Sorely Missed': Wakefield Town Councilor Peter May Dies

WAKEFIELD, MA — Town Councilor Peter May, a dedicated public servant to the town, died Monday after a battle with ALS. He was 62.

"We are all saddened to learn of Peter's passing," the town said in a statement. "He was a thoughtful colleague and friend who cared deeply about Wakefield. He will be missed."

May was in his second term on the council, having joined in 2016 and winning re-election in 2019. He served as chair in 2018.

Even in illness, May attended meetings virtually and carried out his duties.

"Peter was sincere in his philosophy to always consider the best interests of those he served," he said. "He was an excellent communicator, listener, and mediator. His perseverance and commitment to his position as Town Councilor was an inspiration to his colleagues and constituents alike."

One of May's crowning achievements is the creation of Wakefield's dog park in 2016.

"For five years, I got to serve along-side Peter on the Town Council, whether playing Dodgeball or walking in the parades or volunteering at events," Councilor Mehreen Butt said in a Facebook post. "He will be missed - especially his sense of humor."

According to his obituary, May is survived by his wife, Eileen Shannon, his son, Connor May and siblings Henry, David and Cathy May.

"He will be sorely missed," the town's statement said.

There will be a visitation for friends and relatives on the Wakefield Lower Common Friday from 5-7 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. Florence Church on Saturday at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Peter J. May Scholarship Fund, c/o The Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield, Inc., PO Box 321, Wakefield, MA 01880.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi. Subscribe to Wakefield Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.