COMMUNITY ACTIVIST

Dean’s community leadership in Summit County continued with his move to Hudson. In addition to his continued memberships in fraternal and nationality clubs, he joined the Hudson Rotary Club. Rotary was a prominent service organization in Hudson since the 1920s. Dean was an active member from 1942 to his death in 1949.

With the completion of the "Little Lake", a 2 1/2 acre lake on the newly acquired farm on Stow Road, Dean hosted the Rotary members each summer for a picnic at the lake. Dean was highlighted in the 2005 publication A History of the Rotary Club of Hudson.

Dean and Dorothy also hosted various organizational picnics at the lake and cabin.

With his move in 1942 to Hudson, Dean transferred from Annunciation parish in East Akron to St. Mary parish, continuing his active membership in the Knights of Columbus. He immediately became a prominent supporter of the parish. Dean was one of the men of from the parish involved in the long-term planning under the guidance of pastors Fr. Hofer and Fr. Cummins.

In 1948 Dean enlisted volunteer laborers from the Akron Fire Department. On two successive weekends they planted hemlocks on either side of the front entrance to the church. The young trees were donated by Clarence May from his evergreen nursery. This was the first of many church restoration projects that carried through to 1948.

The May children were very active in parish activities: Dean, Jr. and Joan were organists in the later 1940's and early 50’s, and Don, Mike and Joe were routine altar boys.

Dean held active membership in numerous organizations across Summit County such as: East Akron Board of Trade, Rotary, Elks, Ohio Bar Association, Eagles, Akron Liedertafel, Knights of Columbus, Isaac Walton League of Akron, East Akron Board of Trade, Loyal Order Moose.