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"Topanga online"
Passages
Jean May: 1910 - 2008
By Tauni Brustin
Jean May, an extraordinary woman who lived an exceptional life, passed away in her Topanga home on March 22 after a two-week-long hospitalization. She was just shy of her 98th birthday.
Jean was a dear friend whom I admired and enjoyed very much. My account of Jean’s life comes from the many conversations I had with her over the years.
Jean lived through all the tragedies and great events of the 20th Century—two World Wars, the Great Depression, and all the advances of technology and social change. She lived very much in the present, managing all her business, social and family activities with clarity, decisiveness, and dignity.
Jean was born in Sunnyside, Washington, May 4, 1910. Like her mother and grandmother, Jean attended college, receiving a teaching credential from San Diego State University. She soon met her husband, architect Cliff May and began her family, which grew over the years to include one son and four daughters.PHOTO COURTESY TAUNI BRUSTIN
Jean May, one of Topanga’s great matriarchs, died of natural causes on March 22, 2008. May (left) is shown with friend Tauni Brustin at the Bel Air Bay Club, where she was a founding member.
As her family grew, so did Jean’s responsibilities as the wife of a famous architect. Jean entertained the social elite and showcased her home to many famous and prospective clients. Among her guests was Life magazine photographer Gordon Parks, along with a number of famous designers and film stars. She purchased antiques from William Randolf Hearst.
Jean was a founding member of the Bel Air Bay Club and maintained her membership throughout her life. I loved to go to the Club, observing the recognition of the staff as they referred to her as “Mrs. May.” The other person who always called her “Mrs. May” was her housekeeper and loyal companion of 43 years. Jean also belonged to the Riviera Country Club, but eventually decided to trade that membership for a new station wagon to accommodate the comfort and needs of her children.
Jean moved to Topanga in 1968 to her lovely compound Marglen, on Fontaine Road. She went on to buy several rental properties in her beloved Canyon, which she personally managed and maintained. Around the same time, Jean’s daughter Marilyn Philips and Marilyn’s son Jerry Philips also moved to Topanga; both still live here today.
Jean was a member of the Topanga Historical Society, several art museums, and Daughters of the American Revolution. She also traveled extensively.
Jean shared her interests and love of life with me and many others. We had a lot of fun together. Although I am younger than she, I could not always keep up, so I nicknamed her “the pistol.”
At 97, she was still driving the Canyon roads, attending exercise and balance classes, planning projects, attending plays and films, and living life to the fullest. She had a great fondness for birds and fish. One of her favorite films was Winged Migration.
Jean never had a moment of self-pity and always showed compassion for others. She was fiercely independent and orchestrated every moment of her life, even her healthcare until she passed away of natural causes. Her former husband and two of her daughters predeceased her. She is survived by her children Marilyn Philips of Topanga, Hillary Jessup of College Station, Texas, and Michael May of Alamo, California; by her grandson Jerry S. Philips of Topanga and eight other grandchildren; by two great-grandchildren; and by a host of friends. I will deeply miss this great woman with blue sparkling eyes and natural blonde hair. A private memorial was scheduled at her home on Saturday, April 5.
[not related, just sharing]
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