Please accept our heart felt sympathy. Bob was our neighbor, boss, and long-time friend. We will miss him.

For much of his career Bob had a larger-then-life impact on his school and his community. His family has much to be proud of.

Jake and Elaine Ludes
Middleton, MA

Written by Jake and Elaine Ludes
2010-02-01 1:55:17 PM

my heart goes out to the family of mr mays,i still call him mister,because of resepct,which he help teach me while i was in school,i will miss you like a member of my own family-i will think of you always,and always with respect-you were a teacher,a principal,a mentor,and a very dear friend,also a member of my family.,,,,also a very bright light in a somtimes a very dark world,,peace up my friend.

Written by walt brown
2010-02-01 2:27:30 PM

My deepest sympathy to Mr. Mays' family and friends. I have nothing but fond memories of him during my school years at WACS. God Bless.

Written by Ann Eckman
2010-02-01 2:35:02 PM

Mr. Mays always made a point of telling me how proud he was that I was one of "his WACS students" and encouraged me in my endeavors. Best wishes to his family.......

Written by Kathy Koshute Archer
2010-02-01 2:39:09 PM

Mr. Mays was a wonderful Principal and friend. He was a dear friend of the family (Phil Young Family). He will be greatly missed. Our sympathies are extended to his family.

Written by Lisa Schroeder
2010-02-01 2:43:21 PM

I was saddened to hear of Mr. Mays' passing.
He was my favorite high school teacher - I know many of our classmates share fond memories of him as well.
Last August, Brenda Curtis Heiken and I had a wonderful visit with him at his home. Since graduation in 1962, it was always a "must" to visit Mr. Mays when ever I came back "home". Westfield won't be the same without him.

Nina Livecchi Derks

Written by Nina Livecchi-Derks
2010-02-01 4:33:42 PM

So sorry to hear of Bob Mays passing. He was in all our hearts growing up in Westfield High School. He was a great principal and I will always remember him. We respected him and loved him. He will be sadly missed. Class of 1980 WACS!

Nancy Alonge Dunbar

Written by nancy dunbar
2010-02-01 6:27:37 PM

My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Mays's family. I will always remember him with his ready smile or wave, when I was heading out the door to catch the bus. He will be saddly missed by many.
Lisa (Stoyer) Hurd

Written by Lisa Hurd
2010-02-01 7:03:11 PM

Beth and I were saddened upon learning of Bob's death. Bob brought us to Westfield when he hired me to teach Physical Education at the "Academy", in 1968. He will always be remembered as a friend and as a very strong administrators.Our prayers are with you at this difficult time. He will be fondly remembered by his students and his friends. Mike and Beth Cluchey.


Written by Mike and Beth Cluchey
2010-02-02 10:52:42 AM

I am so sad at the passing of a very dear friend, principal, and eventually my "boss". I worked for Mr. Mays until his retirement as his secretary. We formed a wonderful working, respectful of each other, relationship. He taught me the meaning of professionalism in his own mannerisms. He always greeted me as though he was really glad to see me and I him. I will miss his smiling face and his winks of "understanding." My sympathies to you all. May God hold him in His arms forever. -- "Rebecca" (he always called me Rebecca).

Written by Becky Reynolds
2010-02-02 1:44:37 PM

We were so saddened and shocked to read of Bob's death in the paper.We feel that we have lost a very dear friend.We enjoyed our times together and his wonderful tour guide of the Westfield area. It will never be the same when we return to Westfield without his being there. Margie our thoughs and prayers are with you and your family at this sad time. Bob was aspecial person to us and we feel privileged to have known him.

Written by Carol & Mel Riffer
2010-02-02 2:46:57 PM

My thoughts and prayers go out to Bob's family and friends. I always considered Bob to be a gentleman, scholar and friend who had and practiced the highest set of ethical principles. He was one of a kind, and will be missed.

John

Written by John Ellison
2010-02-02 4:50:48 AM

I am saddened to learn of Mr. Mays' passing. He was a strong principal and family friend, a gentleman of high ethical standards. As a principal, he was encouraging and supportive, and he always endeavored to promote challenging academic goals. While my mother was on the school board, she greatly enjoyed working with him and maintained the friendship for many years, even going on a cruise to Russia with him. They used to have a rivalry over who could get their peas planted first every year. We will miss hearing from him, and I know that Westfield will miss a strong member of the community. My deepest condolences to the entire family.

Written by Heather (Newell) Gillies
2010-02-02 5:03:10 PM

My deepest sympathy to the family of Mr. Mays. He was a fine gentleman and always had a moment for his former students. He remembered us all and will be greatly missed.

Written by Jerry Warner
2010-02-02 5:15:31 AM

To the May family,
You have my sincere condolences. Many may have "feared" Mr. Mays while in school but,at the same time many, many more respected him. I have often said that if there were more principals like him, in this day and age, there would be so many less problems in the schools. He is an icon to all the students who were lucky enough to have him in their educational lives. He was one-of-a-kind and will be missed.

Written by Janet Reid
2010-02-02 6:47:52 AM

Bob Mays was an active and helpful educational resource..helpful in my educational journey taking me to a variety of educational opportunities.

The "High School Bowl" was one of my favorite.



Written by Thomas McGilvery III
2010-02-02 7:41:51 PM

To everyone in Bob's family we extend our sympathy. He always stopped at our antique mall when he was in Clarion and we enjoyed and looked forward to his visits. He was a gentle, kind man with a world of CLASS. Truly one-of-a-kind in todays world. We will miss him. Ron and Carol Harris


Written by Ron and Carol Harris
2010-02-02 8:40:57 AM

Mr. Mays went as a chaperone on our Class of 1972 trip to Washington, DC. He was always willing to help students at WACS. I will always remember him.

Written by Patricia Wilberg-Truax
2010-02-02 9:22:59 AM

Mr. Mays was my American History teacher and then my Principal at Westfield Academy and Central School back in the 60s. He was the best history teacher I ever had. I was lucky in my life to be able to know him as a teacher and then to work with him on various charities later in life. I have the deepest respect for him and will always remember him as a great influence. I am sad at his passing.

Written by Abbie Cardy
2010-02-02 9:32:29 AM

We were saddened to hear of Bob's death. He was such a part of Westfield. Many times walking on Main street we would stop and chat. About his travels and usually about his gardens, a love of which we both shared. In reading his obit I realize now that we may have been related! My Aunt Ida Mong and her husband owned Mongs Dairy in Oil City and I had an Aunt Lottie Schettler who lived in Knox. We will miss him and send our thoughts and sympathy to his family from all the Gollnitz family

Written by Norm & Marilyn Gollnitz
2010-02-03 11:09:38 AM

My prayers and sympathy to Mr. May's family. He was very respected in and out of school. I will always remember his love of history and antiques from my trips to the antique store. He will be missed.

Written by Natalie Koshute Navarro
2010-02-03 11:52:23 AM

Dear Mr. Mays:

Thank you for the principles you demonstrated; and yearned that we would embrace. You were staid and took your job seriously, but I always saw happiness in your eyes and belief in our futures.

We did take that influence into our lives and are better for it!

Written by Mark Wilson
2010-02-03 12:04:49 PM

My condolences to Bob's family and friends. "Mr. Mays" was my high school teacher at Lowville Academy. I didn't appreciate how great a teacher he was until after I graduated from college. He taught you to think and to stand up for what you believe. Mr. Mays made the world a better place. May he rest in peace.

Written by Henry Kirch
2010-02-03 1:36:57 PM

To look back and realize that one has touched more people, and far more deeply, than you (or they) ever knew is the very definition of a good life. This was certainly true of Mr. Mays (I never got comfortable calling him Bob). My condolences to you and may he be laughing that hearty laugh in heaven.

Bob Macer

Written by Bob Macer
2010-02-03 2:34:21 PM

I never realized all the lessons Mr Mays taught me until I became a teacher myself. He was a man of integrity and wisdom. My sympathies to his family and friends.

Written by Val Macer
2010-02-03 4:49:23 PM

Our heartfelt condolences go out to Bob's family. We will always remember our trips to antique auctions, Canada, and the White Inn. We will forever treasure Bob's humor, advice, and friendship. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

Written by David and Anne Wiens
2010-02-03 5:40:28 AM

Mr. Mays was one of our favorite teachers, an excellent school administrator, a valued member of our community and a good friend. We are deeply saddened by his passing, and will miss him.
On behalf of my husband John and our children Brett and Michael, may I extend our heartfelt sympathy and our prayer that the Lord will enfold you in an embrace of peace, comfort and love.

Written by Marilyn Hemmer
2010-02-03 9:01:22 AM

As a cousin of Bob's,..to the family,..sincerest sympathy,thoughts,and prayers.
Eva Mae Mong Rossey Family,
Jeanie Rossey Hartle


Written by Jeanie Rossey Hartle
2010-02-03 9:49:54 AM

I am very sorry for your loss. I will miss Bob as one of my greatest supporters. We was Mr Mays for so many years then I began working w/him at church and I thought of him more as a friend and mentor. He has always encouraged me to excel; and praised me as I ventured to preach and when I was elected School Board President. He was a unique, one-of-a-kind person that will be truly missed by this person, the church, and the community.

Written by Marie Edwards
2010-02-04 7:58:40 AM

I was very sad to hear of Bob's passing. He was my history teacher in 1958-1959. He was a wonderful teacher. He was our neighbor for many years and at this time, he was principal and had my three children then. I wish my grandchildren could have had Mr. Mays, or someone like him. I will miss our special talks we had. My deepest sympathy to his family. Bob will be greatly missed in Westfield.

Written by Francine Brown
2010-02-05 8:37:23 PM

I have many memories of Bob Mays. Most recently, I had the privilege of running into him on a sunny Sunday in November 2009, when my husband and I drove into Westfield to browse in the Antiques Store.

Most distantly, I recall first meeting him as a very young child in the mid 1960s, as the boss of my father, Roger Kolpien, who taught Science, and coached sports at WACS.

In many of my student memories, Mr. Mays was the "stern and gruff" principal. If you were unlucky enough to be caught by him in the hall, alone, after the bell had rung, he would seriously inquire, "and what are 'we' doing in the hall, Miss Kolpien?"

However, I will never forget bursting into his office, unannounced, without knocking, covered in mud, to tell him that Walter Miller (a classmate in the class of 1979),had fallen off a cliff in the Chautauqua gorge, during our "Senior Skip Day" from school. I told him I had already told Mrs. Florence Jones (a Social Studies teacher with whom Walter was boarding at the time).

I have no other memory of him with such compassion, as he jumped from behind the desk, ran into the hall, put his arm around a crying Mrs. Jones, and they disappeared together to head to the hospital.

I later learned he had stayed at Westfield, and then accompanied her and the ambulance to Jamestown Hospital and they had waited there all evening. I have never forgotten that. He gave none of us detention, we got no sermons, none of his usual "And what were 'WE' doing in the gorge on a school day?"

He knew that those were not the priority. He knew we were all already hurting and learning a hard life lesson, and nothing he could have said or done would be able to do it any better.

In that final situation, just before our graduation, I got to see the feeling person who lived behind that stern suit and tie. May he rest in peace.

Karen Kolpien Bugaj

Written by Karen Kolpien Bugaj
2010-02-06 10:05:27 PM

Mr. Mays was a great teacher, administrator and friend to our family. My mother, Margaret Casey Locke, was a colleague of Mr. Mays in the social studies department.

While I never had him as a teacher, I was his "student" when he was an administrator and consequently I worked closely with him on student council "stuff." Although I did not know it at the time, he taught me many things both in and out of school which I have used in my own professional career as a school superintendent.

The students of Arkport (my school) don't know it, but many of the lessons I have imparted on them actually came from my mentor, Mr. Robert B. Mays, via this very appreciative (and now terribly saddened) mentee.



Written by William S. Locke
2010-02-06 4:42:37 PM

I'll really miss running into Mr. Mays on the streets of Westfield. He always was so interested in our trips overseas and the people we've met.

I'll also miss visiting his flower garden and hearing about which plants he was expecting to bloom next.

He was a wonderful neighbor and friend.
Sue Scriven

Written by Sue (Woodward) Scriven
2010-02-07 7:40:24 PM

My deepest sympathy for your loss. "Mr Mays" was history teacher in Westfield during his first year of teaching back in 19560. He was an inspiration and I have loved history since then.
Sue (Walker) Rood class of 1961

Written by Sue Walker Rood
2010-02-08 1:29:38 PM

Please accept my sincere condolences for the passing of Mr Bob Mays. He was the Principal of WACS when I was a Rotary Exchange student 1967-68. Each visit back to Westfield for re-unions I have always caught up with him. Such a Gentleman.He will be sadly missed by the community of Westfield.

Robyn Buccheri (nee Campbell)and family

Written by Robyn Buccheri
2010-02-09 9:33:41 PM

My deepest sympathies to the family of "Mr. Mays". Please know that he was a unforgetable role model and certainly a positive influence on the lifes of countless graduates of WACS. Recently, I bumped into him 30 years after my High School graduation and yet he instantly knew my face, my name and many details of my school days. And, Mr. Mays, thank you for your many years of service to our community.

Written by Jacqueline Phillips
2010-02-09 9:48:47 PM

Deepest sympathies to Bob's family and friends. Despite our inability to ruffle his feathers upon his arrival at Westfield Central H.S., he was an exceptional teacher, principal and mentor to us all. He will be sorely missed.

Written by Larry Jones
2010-02-10 2:09:24 PM

I just found out about the passing way of our dear friend Mr. Mays. This true gentleman was always a great friend starting during my year as a Rotary foreign exchange student at Westfield Academy & Central School back in 1981 and since then we developed a lasting friendship. In 1989 he drove all the way to Ann Arbor, Michigan for my graduation from the U of M Law School !
About two years ago, I was fortunate enough to bring my wife and three children from Brazil to meet him and our host families (the Bartons and the Enos) and we had a wonderful time together in Westfield. We also took him for dinner in Chautaqua on his birthday, a memorable October 12. We will miss him so much and want to express to his family our deepest simpathy.

Written by Fernando J. Prado Ferreira
2010-04-06 5:48:24 PM