Mr. Steven Richard May

Steven Richard May, of Hinsdale, Massachusetts, passed away at age 65 on July 4, 2023, after a prolonged battle with Cholangiocarcinoma. He was born in Ayer, Massachusetts on November 11, 1957, to Eric May, 88, of Long Island, New York, and the late Roselyn May (née Davidson). Steven was a musician and composer of progressive, avant-garde projects, both under his own name and pseudonyms such as BreviT and Commander Pants. He engaged in music video projects, and collaborations with artists such as Janis Ian and Greta Garbled. His work has been utilized in theatre, dance and film. In tandem with his music, Steven was an ardent writer and novelist, penning short stories and authoring the novels Whom God Would Destroy, A Fearful Thing, and The Social Compact. He experimented with various methods of pairing his songs to his music. Ever creating and innovating, Steven was the inventor of two board games, "Fourt" and the recipient of the Major Fun Award "Acronymble," that Steven developed into a Berkshire-based, award-winning, game show (aired on Pittsfield Public Access), of which he was the magnanimous host, overseeing a fabulous cast of recurring characters and guest players. For the past ten years, Steven was employed by Gardens of the Goddess, doing fine, artful gardening. Prior, he worked as a mental health outreach counselor at Meridian Associates, where he was a passionate advocate for the population of Berkshire County affected by schizophrenia. He attended Paul Schreiber High School in Long Island, University of Colorado Boulder, and SUNY New Paltz. He is survived by his loving wife of 24 years, Gail Downey, 63 (an artist), his child Adam May, 24 (a musician), and his step-daughter, Ariel Brazee, 34 (a writer). Steven leaves two creative, clever granddaughters, Amelia & Audrey Brazee, eleven excellent nieces and nephews, myriad marvelous cousins and some wildly wonderful in-laws. Steven is predeceased by his sister Leslie Osterman and his brother Jeffrey May, both beloved. Steven enjoyed long distance bicycling, hiking in the White Mountains, camping in Peacham, VT, and winter sports (especially cross-country skiing). He adored wordplay, bizarre coincidences and deconstructing the absurd. His intellectual curiosity and sense of humor knew no bounds. In his final days, Steven kept a musical diary surrounding his experience of dying. It can be found on Instagram and TikTok (under the name brevi.t). Funeral Notice: A memorial celebration for Steven Richard May will be held on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at the Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North Street in Pittsfield, MA, from 11 am to 1 pm.

Mr. Steven Richard May

November 11, 1957 - July 4, 2023