Mr. James Spencer Brand

James Spencer Brand, 87, of Chateauguay, NY died at home on Tuesday January 31st, 2023, in the care of his family and Hospice of the North Country. Born in Rome, NY on May 7th, 1935, Jim married his lifetime companion Shirley Meeker Brand on July 10th, 1954. They were blessed with 68 years of marriage until Shirley’s passing in 2022. Survivors include Rev. James M. (Melissa) Brand of Burke NY, Melinda (Craig) Bird of Little Falls NY, Joanne (Kip) Cassavaw of Chateauguay NY, Spencer (Andrea) Brand of Chaumont, NY, plus many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Jim was a passionate conservationist, working for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation for 30 years. Netting fish on Oneida Lake in his early career, Jim became a master of boating skills including rough water netting. There were many stories of netting lake trout on Seneca, Raquette and Blue Mt Lake, in addition to float plane and helicopter air stocking. Jim became an expert on raising trout and managed many of the New York State Fish Hatcheries during his career. Jim was the Rome, NY Fish Hatchery Manager at the time of his retirement in 1991. Jim spent many hours at the NYS Fair assigned to the Fish and Wildlife Building interfacing with the public, displaying the broad range of NYS fish in aquariums, and answering 1000s of questions from fairgoers. A sportsman advocate, he participated and interacted with many sportsman federations and Fish and Game associations. He strived to get youth involved with sporting activities focused on fishing and helped to obtain public fishing rights in Central and Northern NY. Jim was a devoted family man, an avid fisherman, with a home on Little Long Lake and a camp on the Moose River in Lyonsdale NY. Jim spent as much time outside as possible, took his family camping in the Adirondacks every year and instilled a connection with nature in each of his children. A long-term member of Copper Creek Association, Jim also enjoyed deer season with his crew of camp members. If you were fishing on the side of the road with your bike when you were a kid and a guy in a fish truck stopped and tossed in a net full of trout in the water, it was probably Jim. Jim lived life well and taught us so much, he will be truly missed. Services will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Mr. James Spencer Brand

May 7, 1935 - January 31, 2023