Obituary of James S. Major

GREENFIELD CENTER: James S. Major, a longtime former resident of Greenfield Center, NY passed away peacefully on the evening of April 11, 2025.

 

Jim was born in Amsterdam, NY on November 6, 1934, the son of the late Alfred C. Major and Nellie Smith Major.

 

As a young child growing up in both Amsterdam and later Fort Johnson, where he resided from approximately 1939 to 1948, he fell in love with colonial history and Old Fort Johnson.  He used to play on the grounds of the fort and pretend that he was Sir William, clearly captivated by its history and by his own imagination.

 

His family eventually moved to Johnstown, NY where Jim graduated from Johnstown High School, class of 1952.  He went to work at Bigelow Sandford for a short while where he met and fell in love with Dorothy Kochman and they married in 1955. He attended Russell Sage College and was employed by the NY State Dept. of Audit and Control for nearly 30 years.

 

While living with his wife and children in Greenfield Center he became a volunteer member and officer of the Greenfield #1 Volunteer Fire Dept, the first chairman of the Greenfield Zoning Board of Appeals, and he served as Town Councilman and subsequently as Town Supervisor and county legislator. 

 

Upon his retirement from his auditing job with NY State he operated a municipal consultancy service, and started traveling more extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada with Dorothy. And as his passion was always colonial history -- and as he so clearly loved Old Fort Johnson -- he became a member and trustee of the Montgomery County Historical Society where he served for many wonderful years. 

 

Jim was predeceased by his parents, two older sisters, Florence Major Sassi and Theodora Major Bolle, as well as by his younger brother Alfred, called Fritz, who passed away most recently.

 

Jim is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 70 years, Dorothy Kochman Major and his daughter Valerie Ann Martone (Robert) and by his three sons Robert (Nancy), John (Karen), and Alan, as well as nephews and nieces.  Jim was blessed to have two precious grandchildren, Juliet Martone and Clayton Major.

 

Contributions in Jim’s memory may be made to the Montgomery County Historical Society, P.O. Box 196, Fort Johnson, NY 12010.

 

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Alexander Funeral Home, 3809 Main Street, Warrensburg NY 12885. Funeral services will be private at the request of the family and burial will take place at the family plot in St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Amsterdam. 

 

Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online condolences and guest book.