James C. Knight, 75 passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, May 17.

Calling hours will be from 5-8pm Wednesday, May 21 at the Fortune – Keough Funeral Home at 20 Church Street, Saranac Lake, NY. A Prayer service will take place on Thursday, May 22 at the funeral home at 11am followed by a graveside burial ceremony at the Pine Ridge Cemetery. A reception will follow at the Moose Club in Saranac Lake.

Jim was born in Lake Placid on November 25, 1938. He graduated from Saranac Lake High School, with his brother Clark, in 1958. While in high school his love for sports emerged by playing baseball and helping as a team manager for football and basketball with a beloved coach, Duke Benz. He also showed his love of sports by following area sports teams in the late 1950’s by writing sports columns for the Adirondack Enterprise. After high school, Jim attended the X-Ray Guild in Saranac Lake. Upon completion of his certification in X-Ray he completed an internship in Burlington, Vermont. In 1960, he acquired his first job in radiology at Mary Hitchcock Hospital in Hanover, New Hampshire where he had the memorable experience of x-raying members of the Von Trapp family. In 1962 he made the big move to New York City and was the first x-ray technician hired at Bronx State Hospital. In 1964 he took a job at the New York Hospital for Special Surgery, where some famous individuals had surgeries, one being Joe Namath who he proudly shared that he once took x-rays of prior to a knee surgery. Jim eventually took a job at Jacobi Hospital – Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx in 1965. He worked there and held many roles including department chief and inspector of quality control until retiring in 1995.

On August 8, 1964, Jim married Nan Rose at Holy Rosary Church in the Bronx. Jim and Nan traveled from the city to the North Country just about every weekend from 1964 to 1985 to visit family and friends. Jim coached many adult basketball and softball teams until his son, Jim Jr. who was born in 1974, and was old enough to play sports. Jim coached his son in basketball, softball and track, while following him in other sports throughout his high school and college careers, and most recently supporting baseball in the CVBL with the Timberjaxx.

James was predeceased by his maternal grandmother, Katherine (Hanmer) Hayes, who raised him and his siblings. He was also predeceased by his parents Lenore (Hayes) Knight and John Knight, and siblings Peggy Knight, Jack Knight, and Clark Knight.

Jim is survived by his wife, Nan, son James C. Knight, Jr. and his wife Sara Matthews-Knight, and their twins Anika Grace Knight and Nolan James Knight, as well as a sister, Katherine Knight-Perry of St, Petersburg, Florida.

Condolences can be made at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com and contributions may be to the Saranac Lake Rescue Squad through the Fortune – Keough Funeral Home.

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