James "Skinny" Greenfield

9/29/24

It is with great sadness that we announce the last “Irish Goodbye” of James Greenfield of Skaneateles, NY. James passed away September 29th at Upstate Hospital with his family by his side.

“Skinny,” as he was fondly called by his family and friends, was born March 17, 1953, in Auburn NY, to Ben (“Banjo”) and Barbara Greenfield. He grew up in Skaneateles on the family farm and attended Skaneateles Central Schools (class of ’71) where he was an accomplished football and basketball player. Jim was an active member of the community, serving on the Skaneateles Town Board, Skaneateles Watershed, and Republican Committees. His leadership in agriculture was recognized numerous times, including receiving the AEM-Leopold Conservation Award in 2022.

Jim was a neighbor, friend, brother, uncle, father and grandfather. He was always one to show up to help a friend with any project they had going on, especially if he could bring his beloved backhoe, or just to stop and plow their driveway in the winter months. He enjoyed working beside his brothers, son and nephews on the family farm raising crops and making hay. He took great pride in maintaining the grass waterways on the farm, working closely with the Skaneateles Lake Watershed (and his beloved backhoe).

Jim looked forward to his early-morning coffee gatherings with friends and members of the local farming community to chat about the previous day's events and catch up on the gossip. He could often be found gathered around a card table with a couple of “schooners” for a game of pitch with his close friends.

Jim enjoyed traveling with his buddies. He recently visited Ireland and Alaska and claimed that his “bucket list” had been checked off. He was an avid trapshooter at the Skaneateles Rod and Gun Club where, very occasionally, you could find his name on the high-score board. He spent much of his time in recent years hunting and trapping woodchucks and the “dreaded beavers’’ that infiltrated the swamp by his house.

He loved visits from his two grandchildren, “the units,” as he called them, Avery and Jack. Above all, he loved every minute he spent with his four children.

James was predeceased by his brother David, son Jacob, daughter Julia, father Ben and mother Barbara. He is survived by his brothers, Bill “Dozer” and Tom “TK” (Lisa), sisters Peg (Mike) Card and Sue Murphy, children Ellie (Dustin Hildreth), Amy, Ben, Emma (Danny Mack), grandchildren Avery and Jack, along with several nieces, nephews and loving neighbors.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, October 4th from 4-7pm at the Mandana Barn, 1274 Route 359, Skaneateles. A celebration of Skinny’s life will be held on Saturday, October 5th at 3pm with words of remembrance at 4pm, also at Mandana Barn.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to S.A.V.E.S. in Skaneateles.