Man’s life devoted to House

Nothing escaped Joe Mayo when it came to the finer points of Maine’s laws.

“Lots of people know the Bill of Rights, but not so many know the executive powers under the Maine Constitution or understand exactly how a pocket veto works if the Legislature hasn’t reconvened for three days,” said Speaker of the House Michael Saxl. “While the rest of us fumbled through our pocket constitutions, he’d know and would quote the archaic matters of the Maine Constitution.”

Mayo, 42, the clerk emeritus of the Maine House of Representatives, died Thursday after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, for several years.

He was remembered Friday as a loving, sensitive man with a keen wit and an unfailing devotion to the Legislature.

An expert on parliamentary procedure and the mechanics of how a bill makes its way through the Legislature, Mayo would draft scripts for lawmakers “so people who didn’t know how to present a bill or make a motion” wouldn’t feel uncomfortable on the floor of the House, Saxl said.

“That innovation is being carried on today,” he said.

A degenerative, fatal illness that affects the nerves and muscles, ALS left Mayo paralyzed but determined to continue with the job he loved. Up until three weeks ago he was coming into the State House several times a week.

The Thomaston native graduated from Georges Valley High School and the University of Maine. He served as a state representative from 1983 to 1992, twice elected by the majority Democratic bloc as House majority whip, and as House clerk from 1982 to 2000 when he became clerk emeritus.

Married to Rebecca Wyke, Maine’s chief deputy secretary of state, Mayo was the father of three children.

He received an outstanding graduate award from the University of Maine Alumni Association in 2000 and, that same year, an honorary doctorate from the University of Maine at Fort Kent.

Rita Melendy, Mayo’s administrative assistant who worked with him for 20 years, said Mayo felt obligated to help others with ALS.

He formed the Maine division of the New England Chapter of ALS, which would meet regularly at the State House.

Whenever he went through a new medical process or received new equipment, he’d show other patients what to expect, Melendy said.

“I’m exhibit A,” he’d say.

You couldn’t go too long without hearing about Mayo’s sense of humor. He never seemed to take himself too seriously. Toward the end of the legislative session, said Melendy, a bill that seemed to continually appear and reappear in various forms finally died. In honor of the much-anticipated event, Mayo had a rubber chicken sent to the secretary of the Senate, who just “screamed out laughing,” Melendy recalled.

“If you value life by the love of family and friends, Joe Mayo was one of the wealthiest persons to have ever lived,” said Attorney General Steven Rowe.

His life was “truly a profile in courage. He inspired others by the way he dealt with the disease,” said Rowe. Mayo worked to raise money for ALS research, “knowing that the benefits of research would probably not apply to him, but that he’d be helping others in the future,” the attorney general said.

In 2000, friends formed a scholarship fund in Mayo’s name to help educate the children and grandchildren of ALS victims in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Few people cared about Maine more than Mayo, said Gov. Angus King, calling him “the conscience of the Legislature.

“… Joe displayed the traits that made all of us like him so much – dedication, intelligence and an incredible sense of humor,” King said.

Maine’s congressional delegation expressed similar thoughts.

“Joe Mayo devoted his life to public service, something for which the citizens of Maine will always be grateful,” said Sen. Susan Collins. “I always admired his hard work and his devotion to Maine.”

Mayo “served his constituents … with characteristic candor and distinction,” said Sen. Olympia Snowe. “In the Legislature he rose to leadership because of his commitment to his party’s principles. Later, as clerk of the House, he guided the work of the chamber with integrity and a steady hand.”

Mayo “showed us that obstacles can be overcome and that they shouldn’t deter us from contributing in meaningful ways to our family and community,” said U.S. Rep. John Baldacci.

In memory of Mayo, King has directed that the U.S. flag and the state flag be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 28 and 29.

A funeral is scheduled at 1 p.m. Tuesday at St. Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church in Augusta and a memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Thomaston.