Tony May was a Pennsylvania legend, a consummate professional . . . a true intellect with a kind and generous spirit. That’s how Charlie Gerow, one of May’s closest friends and political sparring partner, remembers him.
May died Monday in Harrisburg. He was 77. He is survived by his wife Betsy Payne.
May made an indelible mark on Pennsylvania politics, both as a journalist and as a political strategist. He was a columnist for PennLive, working for many years with John Micek, PennLive’s former Opinion Editor.
A veteran newspaperman, May was a former reporter and editor for The Associated Press and newspapers in New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
But he also served as communications director and press secretary for Gov. Bob Casey. May’s experience included working as director of communications under House Speakers K. Leroy Irvis and James J. Manderino and director of communications at Kent State University.
For three years, he served as executive director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party.
May also is past chair of the Pennsylvania Public Television Network and is a regular commentator on the Pennsylvania Cable Network and Harrisburg’s CBS affiliate, WHP-TV.
At the time of his death, he was Partner Emeritus with Triad Strategies, a communications and public relations firm in Harrisburg.
Before joining Triad, May was executive vice president of Neiman Group, a respected advertising firm with clients that included Fortune 500 companies, statewide labor unions and non-profit organizations.
Gerow recalls May wielded significant influence and power in Pennsylvania politics.
“Newspaperman, press secretary to governors and top aide to Speakers of the House, he ran the Democratic Party of Pennsylvania for a while and was a trusted adviser to so many top Democrats that space doesn’t allow them to be listed,” Gerow wrote in a January 2019 opinion piece published on PennLive.
The column was a tribute to the long partnership May and Gerow enjoyed as opposing political pundits. But they were also close friends.
May sparred with Gerow for many years on air and in personal appearances, with May fiercely defending Democratic positions.
“We would go after each other on-air,” Gerow said. “But all through those years, he never said a harsh word off air.”
But May had a shrewd sense of humor. Once when they were rafting together, Gerow’s shirt became soaked.
“Tony was happy to offer me one of his, “ Gerow said. “The shirt had the Democratic Party name and logo emblazoned on the front,” Gerow said. “And he made sure to take a picture of me wearing it.”
Micek remembers May as a fount of historical knowledge about Pennsylvania politics.
“A conversation with Tony May was like a walk through the back pages of Pennsylvania’s political history,” Micek said. “Whether I needed to confirm an obscure bit of political arcana or was looking for the view from 30,000 feet on an important issue, Tony was among the first phone calls.”
May’s experience as a journalist and in state government were invaluable assets, Micek said.
“Because of his longevity and depth of knowledge, he was able to contextualize issues, making them fit within the grander narrative of Pennsylvania political history.
“Sadly, that's a dying art. And Tony was among its master practitioners.”
Virginia Roth, president of PPO&S, a Harrisburg public relations firm, says May was highly esteemed among his peers in the industry and throughout the commonwealth.
“Tony was respected for his even demeanor and artful insights. You were nearly always promised a fair and well thought out debate regardless of the topic,” she said. “Tony championed reason, and that was a tough calling. His smile and humor will be grandly missed."
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