Isabel Meyer May, 103

Considered a woman before her time and a pioneer of women’s liberation by her family, Isabel Meyer May was the first woman president of Temple Israel of Lawrence and founded a woman-oriented Five Towns-based charity organization.
Born in Brooklyn on April 11, 1912, May died at her Bal Harbour, Fla. home on June 26. She was 103.
A graduate of Hunter College, May earned a master’s degree in social work from New York University, and was a career woman before that term became outdated and was a dedicated philanthropist.
In 1935, she married Samuel May and the couple moved to Cedarhurst in 1942. They also lived in Lawrence for seven years, moved to Hewlett Bay Park in 2952 and then built a house in Hewlett Harbor, where they lived until heading to Florida 23 years later. They were married for 63 years. Samuel pre-deceased her in 1998.
May founded the Five Towns Welfare League that supported charitable causes and operated a thrift store. She was also active in the Anti-Defamation League, Mount Sinai of Miami Beach, the Miami House for the Aged at Douglas Gardens and many other organizations and institutions. “She left a large footprint and will be greatly missed,” said her daughter Linda May Sklar.
On the Board of Trustees for Temple Israel, May served as president for the Reform Jewish congregation between 1976-’77. “She was a woman of social distinction, philanthropy and charity,” said Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, spiritual leader of the synagogue. Rosenbaum was the temple’s assistant rabbi in 1977. “She was representative of not only Temple Israel but the Jewish people,” he added. The temple’s May Museum includes Judaica that tells the history of the Jewish people, the rabbi said.
In addition to Linda and her husband, Steve, May is survived by her son, Peter and his wife, Leni; grandchildren Marci, and her husband, Stu Bodner; Caryn, Kenneth Sklar and his wife, Vivian; Jon May and his wife, Juliana; Leslie and her husband, Andrew Blauner, along with 10 great-grandchildren.