- May 2 Peter Swales, British soccer executive (Chairman Manchester City FC 1973-93; vice-president English FA), dies at 63
- May 3 Tim Gullikson, American tennis player and coach (Pete Sampras coach 1992-95; Martina Navratilova Mary Joe Fernandez), dies of cancer at 45
- May 5 Beryl Burton, cyclist, dies at 58
- May 11 Ademir de Menezes, Brazilian footballer (Brazil national team 1945-53), dies at 73
- May 14 Sritharan Jeganathan, cricketer, 1st Sri Lankan Test player to die
- May 17 Rusi Modi, Indian cricketer (736 runs 10 post-war Tests for India), dies at 71
- May 17 Scott Brayton, American auto racer (4 x top 10 finishes Indianapolis 500; 2 x pole), dies in a practice accident at 37
- May 17 Willi Daume, German olympic organiser, dies at 82
- May 18 Simon Weinstock, English businessman and racehorse owner, dies at 44
- May 19 Giovanni "John" Beradino, American MLB infielder (St. Louis Browns, Cleveland Indians) and actor (General Hospital), dies from pancreatic cancer at 79
- May 26 Mike Sharperson, American baseball infielder (MLB All Star 1992; World Series 1988, 95), dies in a car crash at 34
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions