Rolland Lee Mays

Rolland Lee Mays, 89, died Sunday, February 14, 2010 at his home. In 1920, Rolland was born in Buffalo, New York, son of the late Eugene aneemma Campbell Mays. He was educated in Buffalo schools, graduating cum laude from the Uneersity of Buffalo with a Bachelor's degree in chemistry. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Sigma Lambda, honorary scholastic fraternities. During World War II, he worked in the laboratory of a steel processing company in Buffalo's defense industry. In 1952, he joined the Molecular Sieve Department of the Linde Division of the Union Carbide Corporation, retiring from the position of Director of Technology in 1984. Oneetirement, Rolland and his wife Lillian, moved to Durham from Somers, New York. Retirement afforded him the opportunity to pursue many of his extensive interests, not only in the sciences, but also in the arts, travel and the study of foreign languages. He travelled extensively in Europe both before and after retirement. He was a member of Sigma Xi, the Research Society of America, and was a past president of the Durham-Chapel Hill Torch Club. He also served as a voluneer teacher in the Orange County English as a Second Language Program for over five years. He was a member of the St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Rolland was the husband of Lillian Goerke Mays of Durham, NC; father of Diane Jagiello of Kenmore, NY, Carol Puusepp of Lockport, NY, Jan Kaiser of Bernardsville, NJ, and Donald Mays of Greenwich, CT. He was the grandfather of twelve and great-grandfather of thirteen. He was the brother of Arthur Eugene Mays of Elma, NY deceased. A Mass of the Resurrection will be offered Thursday, February 18 at 10:30 am from St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Burial will follow in St. Matthew Catholic Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm Wednesday at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Flowers are acceptable or donations may be made to Duke Hospice, 4321 Medical Park Drive, Suite 101, Durham, NC 27704. Arrangements are with Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences www.hallwynne.com