James W. Feck

Voorheesville, NY – James W. Feck, 72, passed away unexpectedly at his home on August 18, 2014. Jim and his beloved wife of 44 years, Sandra Lee (Dannecker) raised their three children, son James D. (Melissa Shannon) – Abigail (12), Andrew (10); son Adam C. (Julie Cunniff) – Carlin (12), Mary (9), Josephine (6); and daughter Victoria van der Laan (Skye) – Tigerlily (11), Lyric (7), Elke (9 mos.).

Jim grew up in Irondequoit, NY, part of a close-knit family of siblings and cousins. He is survived by his brother Gerald C. (Donna Glebatis) and sister Catherine A. Tunis (Rafael), and pre-deceased by his brother John T. and his sister Barbara (Schlageter).

A "retired bureaucrat" for the NYS Department of Health, Jim offered the following to the St. Lawrence University Class of 1964 50th Reunion Class Book, "When not on the road or working, I stay active with woodworking, hiking and snowshoeing, skating, kayaking and canoeing, fly fishing and fly tying, and running (but not compulsively). But I must stop. I have to go running now; I've already missed a day this quarter." Jim ran Monday morning.

When asked what he enjoyed about retirement, he replied, "New-found and unexpected freedom … security to mellow and find/share humor in everything … discovery that opportunities for learning present in previously undetected places … seek relevance where it is, not where it was." Jim found relevance and great joy in his grandchildren. They will miss their "Buddah." He will also be missed by three generations of nieces and nephews.

Services will be held on Sunday, August 24, 2014, at Newcomer-Cannon Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Road, Colonie, NY. Calling hours begin at 10:00 a.m. with a service to follow at 1:00 p.m. In Jim's memory, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.