James S. Ambrose

Shushan, NY - James S. Ambrose, 80, of Shushan, passed away Friday, January 23, 2026, at Saratoga Hospital.

Born July 10, 1945 in Washington, DC, Jim was the son of the late James Richard and Rebecca Agnes (Dole) Ambrose. He graduated from high school in Orange County, California, and went on to attend Harvey Mudd College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Jim later enlisted in the United States Army and served in Vietnam. Following his honorable discharge, he continued his education at the Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania, earning his MBA.

Jim’s professional career reflected both dedication and adaptability. He worked for DuPont, the Ford Motor Company, International Harvester, and later Time Warner as a financial analyst. In 1983, Jim suffered a diving accident that left him a quadriplegic. Determined to continue providing for his family, he taught himself computer programming and secured jobs with Island Records and other companies in New York City, working to develop the first touch-screen technology for browsing music in stores. For over 40 years after his accident, Jim continued to work full-time with various companies, building a career he deeply enjoyed while raising his family.

Throughout his married life, Jim lived in Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; Summit, New Jersey; Guilderland, New York; and most recently Shushan, New York, where he had resided since 2011.

Jim had a lifelong love of learning and problem-solving. He especially enjoyed computer programming and coding, reading science fiction, astronomy, jigsaw puzzles, and word and logic puzzles. While living in Guilderland, he and his family held season tickets to local hockey teams, regularly attending games at RPI in Troy and the Knickerbocker Arena in Albany. He was also highly involved in the Guilderland public school district while his daughters were growing up, volunteering numerous hours as president of the PTA Council and working with elementary and middle school students through math and computer clubs that he founded and led. In his later years, Jim took great pleasure in spending time with his grandchildren–telling jokes, watching them compete in sports, discussing science and history, and building intricate Legos creations. 

With his quick wit and dry sense of humor, Jim made friends with everyone he encountered, always striving to put others at ease and find common ground.  However, his greatest joy came from serving as a support to his family.  Whether acting as a careful listener, providing guidance on topics from taxes to gardening, or simply letting them know he was always in their corner, Jim played an invaluable role in the lives of his family. 

Jim is survived by his wife of 51 years, Kristine (Hamelin) Ambrose, whom he married on June 27, 1974. He is also survived by his children: Jennifer Ambrose of Utica, New York; Karin Foster and her husband Kent of Shushan, New York; and Rebecca Ambrose and her husband Jeffrey Barringer of Guilderland, New York. He is survived by his siblings: Dave Ambrose and his wife Sue of Friday Harbor, Washington; Greg Ambrose and his wife Diane of Fairplay, Colorado; and Jeff Ambrose and his wife Kathy of Cedar Mountain, North Carolina.

Jim was a devoted grandfather to Anna and Jane Foster and to Aurora, Colton, Sullivan, Wells, and Montgomery Barringer. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his parents, Jim was predeceased by his granddaughter, Ruth Foster.

A graveside service with military honors will be held in the spring at Woodlands Cemetery in Cambridge.

Memorial contributions in memory of Jim may be made to the Salem Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 360, Salem, NY 12865; the Salem Food Pantry, P.O. Box 476, Salem, NY 12865; and the Friends of the Bancroft Public Library, P.O. Box 478, Salem, NY 12865.

To express sympathy or share a memory of Jim, please visit www.gariepyfuneralhomes.com

The McClellan-Gariepy Funeral Home, Inc., in Salem is assisting the family with arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James S. Ambrose, please visit our floral store.