Hanover, NH – Donald Harkness May, age 98, died peacefully at home in Hanover, New Hampshire on February 16, 2026, surrounded by family. He was a week shy of his 99th birthday. His ready and warm smile will be missed by all.
Born February 21, 1927, to Stacy May, an economist, and Katharine Harkness May, an artist, he was raised in Norwich, VT, Bronxville, NY, New York City and Washington DC. Don attended Harvard but left early to start his journalism career with the Staten Island Advance. He then moved to Washington, and worked for The Washington Daily News, the United Press International, The National Journal, and as a speech writer for Senator Gaylord Nelson. He became a freelance writer in the mid-1980’s and wrote for the World Bank, among other organizations. He married Alison McCallum May, a childhood friend, in 1954. Together they raised their family in Alexandria, VA. They retired to Norwich, VT in 1994.
In the 1990’s, Don became increasingly focused on economic development in Africa. On assignment with the World Bank, he took a trip to The Gambia, a poor country in West Africa. From a chance meeting with a young girl, he learned that families had to pay for the privilege of attending public school, and children were dropping out when families couldn’t afford it. Many of the students never got beyond a primary school education. When Don returned from the trip, he and Alison discussed his experience and in 1996 they founded the non-profit Salikenni Scholarship Fund to support and mentor students from Salikenni and its surrounding villages. He visited the area many times over the following years and forged deep relationships with students and parents. He found intense joy in the success of the students and kept in close touch with many of them long after their graduations through WhatsApp texts and phone calls.
Don was an indefatigable walker and loved to have company join him for long contemplative hikes-at a significant pace-often involving discussions of issues of the world. He was an avid consumer of a broad range of newspapers and online journals and was particularly interested in economic and social issues in developing countries.
He was a quiet and unassuming man who shied away from the spotlight but left an indelible mark on the lives of many. In his final days he was hard at work on a book about education in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He is survived by his wife of nine years, Ann Holbrook, as well as his and Alison’s four children and their families: Anne and Henry Hart (Chestertown, MD), Steve and Liza May (Bonita Springs, FL), Dave May and Kathy Kiluk (Hingham, MA), Libby May and Eoghan Mahony (Woodstock, VT). He also leaves seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, his sister, Patricia May Bass (Concord, NH), two stepchildren, Heather and Steve Roberts (Lebanon, NH) and Stephen and Julie Holbrook (Cambridge, NY) and three step-grandchildren. His first wife, Alison May, died in 2016.
At Don’s request, no memorial service will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Salikenni Scholarship Fund (www.salikenni.org) or a charity of your choice.
An online guestbook can be found at www.rand-wilson.com.
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