James Hughes Racette

Saratoga Springs - James Hughes Racette passed into Eternal Life at Saratoga Hospital on Saturday, April 19, 2008 after a valiant battle with pneumonia.

Born October 19, 1931 in Schenectady, NY, he was a son of the late George W. Racette, Sr. and Rose Hughes Racette. A graduate of St. John the Evangelist School and St. Joseph's High School in Schenectady, James received his B.S. degree in physics from Siena College and his M.S. degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He worked in semiconductor technology at several electronics firms, including the General Electric Company at the Research Laboratory and Syracuse locations. James and his wife, Mary, retired in 1998 and moved to Saratoga Springs.

His love of God the Creator is shown especially in the many pictures he took as a talented landscape and nature photographer, and in the beautiful garden in which he spent many hours, tending flowers and maintaining its koi pond. James liked to listen to music, both jazz and classical varieties, and shared his enthusiasm with his family. His wife and children remember with pleasure how he shared his enjoyment of the outdoors with them on family camping trips and other activities. His wonderful sense of humor will never be forgotten.

A loving husband, father, brother and grandfather, James is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary Perkinson Racette; children Joseph Racette and his wife Linda Pierce of Midlothian, VA, Ann Racette of Tucson, AZ, Patricia Racette of Marietta, GA, Michael Racette and his wife Maura Murphy of Wellesley, MA and Catherine Racette and her husband Craig Nelson of Maplewood, NJ; grandchildren Kyle, Scott, Mark, Claire and Caroline Racette, Colette and Amy Burruel, Andrea, Monica and Carlos Zamora; his brother, George W. Racette, Jr. and his wife Dolores of Lafayette Hill, PA; a nephew, Paul Racette and his wife Meg Gruwell of Oreland, PA; nieces Marian Racette and Theresa Al Damlouji and her husband Zaid of Ambler, PA and Frances Racette of Charlottesville, VA; and several cousins, including Mary Ann Finley of Niskayuna, who is like a sister to him.

Relatives and friends gathered on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes in Saratoga Springs.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, April 24, 2008 at St. Clement's Church in Saratoga Springs with the Rev. George Brucker officiating.

Burial took place in the family plot in Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery, Niskayuna.

Donations may be made in his name to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, 40 N. Main Ave., Albany, NY 12203, Food for the Poor, 6401 Lyons Rd., Coconut Creek, FL 33073 or YMCA of Saratoga Springs, 290 West Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.