- May 8 Avery Brundage, American businessman (5th President International Olympic Committee 1952-72), dies at 87
- May 22 Robert "Lefty" Grove, American Baseball HOF pitcher (6 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1929, 30; AL MVP 1931; Triple Crown 1930, 31; Philadelphia A's, Boston Red Sox), dies from a heart attack at 75
Ezzard Charles (1921-1975)
May 27 American world heavyweight boxing champion (1949-51), dies of ALS at 53
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