WEST WINDSOR - James H. "Sanko" Stacey, III, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Friday, February 28, 2020 at Mount Ascutney Hospital in Windsor, VT. Born on March 23, 1949 and raised in Windsor, Sanko was the son of James H. and Anne (Bryan) Stacey. He was a three-sport athlete and proud member of the Windsor High School Class of 1967. After high school he completed a year of post-graduate study at MCI and then attended Northampton Junior College.

Sanko returned to Vermont and was employed by Eastman Construction as a finish carpenter. In 1976, he married Cynthia "Cindy" Gravelle at her family's home in Brownsville. Together they bought and lovingly restored an 1820 farmhouse, where they resided their entire married life. He was an active member of the community, from coaching little league and helping to build the playground at the Albert Bridge School to volunteering on the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Department. Sanko, with his father and brother, owned and operated the family business, Stacey Fuel and Lumber Company. One of his favorite parts of operating a local business was getting to know and talk with new and familiar faces. This enjoyment in building relationships helped him in his later work with New York Life Insurance and most recently at LaValley Building Supply. He was a member and past president of the Windsor Rotary Club and the Northeast Retail Lumber Association, served on the Brownsville Planning Commission and was a member of the Meccawe Fishing Club in Bridgewater.

A true Vermonter, Sanko enjoyed the simple things in life. He was a lifelong fan of the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots and closely followed the PGA Tour. He was an avid skier and shared his love of the sport as an instructor at Mount Ascutney. He especially loved fresh powder days and Thursday ski races with his family and friends. Sanko was an expert craftsman and in his free time enjoyed woodworking. In the summer months, when he wasn't on his tractor maintaining the homestead, he spent his time outside fly fishing and playing golf. Most of all he valued his family.  Whether they were at home or on vacation in Maine he found joy in time spent with his loved ones.

Sanko was predeceased by his parents. Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Cindy Stacey of West Windsor, daughter, Elicia Rowan and her husband, Conor of Windsor, daughter, Jacqueline "Jackie" Stacey and her partner, David Record of Hartland, siblings, Sarah "Sally" Stacey Hagen and her husband, Stephen of Westfield, MA, Robert "Bob" Stacey and his wife, June of Hartland, and Margaret "Peggy" Stacey and her partner, Pat Nelson of Portsmouth, NH, father-in-law, Leonard Gravelle and his wife, Kate of Grafton, VT, mother-in-law, Brenda Miller and her husband, Donald of West Bath, ME, sisters-in-law, Cherrie Boone and her husband, Geoff of West Burke, VT, Ashley Morse and her husband, Aaron of West Windsor, brother-in-law, Jason Gravelle of West Windsor and many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and great nephews.

A service will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2020 at 2pm at the Brownsville Community Church. A reception will follow at the Ascutney Outdoors Center.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ascutney Outdoors at PO Box 101, Brownsville, VT 05037, the Hand to Heart Project at PO Box 248, Cornish Flat, NH 03746, Mount Ascutney Hospital at 289 County Road, Windsor, VT 05089.

The Knight Funeral Home in Windsor is entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to his family in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhome.com