Ricky Dean May

Rick Dean May, Sr.

Rick Dean May, Sr. passed away peacefully at the age of 78 in his home in Paradise, Utah, on Saturday, December 27, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Rick was born on December 16, 1947, in Lamar, Colorado, the eldest child of William Lavern May and Marilyn Marie May (Jacobs). He graduated from Lamar High School with the Class of 1965. In 1966, he married Anna Kordiak of Denver, Colorado, and they welcomed a son, Rick Dean May, Jr. in 1967.

Rick attended Colorado State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics in 1972. In 1978, the family moved to Utah, where he later earned a Master of Engineering in Computer Science from the University of Utah.

In 1991, Rick married Frances Kim Boydston (Crosbie) of Taylor, Utah, and they shared a loving and devoted marriage for the rest of their lives together.

Affectionately known within the family as the “rocket scientist,” he worked at the Little Mountain Test Facility for Boeing (formerly Rockwell) and for various other defense contractors. His career focused on ensuring the viability of missile defense systems, with particular expertise in nuclear and cosmic radiation hardening. After retirement, he continued his work through his own consulting company, Nuclear Radiation Hardening Associates.

A pioneer of ultrarunning in Utah, Rick often entered races under his moniker Bilbo Baggins. He competed in many early Utah mountain runs, including the Flight of the Eagle and Uintah Primitive Run. He was a twelve-time finisher of the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run, running in the inaugural race; his best time was 26:18:59 in 1990. He also finished twelve Pikes Peak Doubles and five Pikes Peak Ascents.

Through his running, Rick raised money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, founding the pledge-per-mile Cystic Fibrosis Hope Encouraging Run for the Young People We Love (1981–1991) in honor of his cousin, Gary Eaton.

In 2002, he served as a torchbearer for the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. He logged countless miles running in the mountains of Utah and Colorado and made many lifelong friends along the way—the closest of them humorously referring to each other as the “Lunatic Fringe.” In 2019, he was invited to run and be celebrated in the 40th anniversary of the Wasatch 100, alongside its other early entrants.

In his later years, Rick developed a love of golf. Family gatherings often centered around large group rounds at Eagle Mountain Golf Course, which became the source of many cherished memories. On June 18, 2015, he proudly achieved a hole-in-one on Hole 11.

Rick is survived by his wife, Kim May; his son, Rick May, Jr.; his stepchildren, Brandon (Paula) Boydston, Jamie (Joshua) Johnstun, and Kari (Mark) Izatt; ten grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; his sister, Shelly (John) Jackson; his nephew, Ryan (Joanna) Hernandez; and many cousins and extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandson, Samuel Dean May; his parents-in-law, George Crosbie and Frances Crosbie (Done); and numerous canine running companions—mostly rescues—including Punkin, Griz, Gandy, Mooch, Weiser, Skippy, Timon, Pumbaa, Tank, Kaneeka, Scooter, and Nakira.

No funeral or memorial service will be held at this time; however, a private celebration of life for family and close friends will be held in the summer. In lieu of flowers, donations made in Rick’s name to a charity of your choice are welcomed. The family is deeply grateful for all expressions of love, remembrance, and support. Rick and his much-cherished humor will be missed by all who knew him, but in the words of his favorite character, Bilbo Baggins, “The road goes ever on and on...” (from The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien).