Jack moved to Davis with his family in 1955 when he was in sixth grade. He graduated from Davis High School in 1962 and attended California State University, Sacramento, where he studied philosophy.
For more than 20 years he was active in music circles as a musician, producer and engineer in Davis and San Francisco. He played the lead guitar for Group B and Andrew Staples. His band opened at the Fillmore for the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Jimi Hendrix and many other groups of the era including The Rolling Stones at a Sacramento concert.
He most recently worked as a computer resource specialist in the human resources department at UC Davis. He also was an active volunteer with Davis Community Network.
Known for his wit and humor, Jack spent the last decade of his life sharing his recovery with others. He was a much-loved member of many local recovery groups where he shared his experience, strength and hope even when he was suffering from a long-term illness.
Survivors include many friends and his parents, Jack and Ruth May of Davis; his sister and brother-in-law, Toni May and Gary Roland of Woodland; his brother Bruce May of Woodland and Bruce's fiancee Victoria Davis; and an uncle, Brother Thomas Marshall, S.J. of San Jose.
Additional survivors include niece Sheila Beall and her husband Mike Beall of Woodland; niece Stacy Roman of Woodland and her husband John; nephew Robert Neely of Atlanta, Ga., and four great-nieces and -nephews: Justin, Corrie, Lindsay and Johnny.
Jack was "a bright star falling...falling...falling."
Memorial contributions may be made to any local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous.
by Elisabeth Sherwin
The Davis Virtual Market