MIDDLE GROVE — James “Chris” Christopher Knight passed away peacefully in the comfort of his own home on Sunday, September 24, 2023, surrounded by his loving family.

Born on December 6, 1950, in Saratoga Springs, he was the son of the late Frank James Knight and Elizabeth (Ackroyd) Knight. Chris grew up in the rural area of Middle Grove and continued to stay rooted in the once countryside and vast farm fields of Greenfield.

He lived his entire life in Middle Grove in the Town of Greenfield. He attended a one room school in Greenfield prior to his schooling at St. Peter’s School in Saratoga Springs. Upon graduating from St. Peter’s, Chris completed his high school education at the Cranwell School for boys in Lenox, MA.

As a youth and wanting to follow in his big brother’s footsteps, he soon enlisted in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War where he quickly became a munitions specialist first serving in Japan, then Guam. Once he completed his overseas assignment, he returned to the US to complete his tour at the USAFB missile site in Minot, North Dakota. Here, he was a member of the security police in the Strategic Air Command Group.

When Chris completed his commitment to his country, he secured a civilian position with Electric Boat at the Kesselring Site in West Milton, NY where he was involved in the construction of the S8G Prototype. Soon, his keen interest in advancing his education led him to SUNY at Albany to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration summa cum laude with a dual focus on Finance and Economics. After completing his education, Chris accepted a position in employment with the New York State Department of Health, in Health Research, at the Wadsworth Labs in Albany. At the time of his retirement, his position with the state was systems network manager, but his colleagues fondly recall “he was really so much more.”

During the summer months, his life interests included: hiking and rock climbing in the Adirondack Mountains. He soon became an exceptionally skilled rock climber, skier, and ice climber. So much so that he decided to climb the glacier in Banff National Park, British Columbia. Although he loved skiing in the great Rocky Mountains, he returned to his favorite place in New York, the Adirondack Mountains.

Chris had many outdoor passions, but as a husband, father and papa, his greatest passion was his family. 

Chris was the devoted husband of 36 years to the love of his life, Ginger Knight, whom he married on May 24, 1987, in Saratoga Springs. He was the loving father of daughter Stacy Akaka (Christopher Richter) and cherished Papa of Timothy Akaka, Lydia Akaka, Phoebe Akaka and their father David Akaka; his son Guy Carmean (Jaime Bogovich) and cherished Papa of Chase James Carmean; daughter Susan Carmean Pollard (Jeremy Pollard) and cherished Papa of Alana Pollard. He is also the lifelong superstar for Wenonah Kemp and Karen Brown, and dearest brother Frank Michael Knight (Janice Myers Knight), nieces Kirstie and Becca, and nephew Andrew.

Cremation has taken place through the care of Simple Choices, Inc.

Interment with Military Honors commenced on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023 in the Gerald B. H. Solomon – Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Rd, Schuylerville, NY 12871. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of James Christopher Knight may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

Fond memories, expressions of sympathy, and memorial tree planting in memory of Chris may be made online at: SimpleChoicesCremation.com