James Stys

James K. Stys, 51, of Nashua, NH, died Thursday, February 2, 2017 in Nashua, surrounded by his loving family following a courageous fight with cancer. He and his twin sister, Karen, were born on June 16, 1965 in Nashua. James was an Alumnus of the Franco American School in Lowell, a graduate of Nashua High School, Class of 1983, attended New Hampton School for a prep year in 1984, and then attended the University of Pittsburg. He later graduated from Middlesex Community College with a degree in criminal justice and was currently enrolled in two Master’s Degree programs at UMass Lowell. James began his law enforcement career with the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Department. In 1992 he graduated from the NH Police Academy and joined the Town of Hillsborough Police Department a year later. In 1996, James joined the Town of Hudson Police Department where he would reach the position of Master Patrol Officer. During his tenure, he was an active member of the NH Attorney General’s Drug Task Force, a Certified Accident Re-constructionist, a Certified Motorcycle Officer, a member of the Hudson Police Crime Scene Unit, and a DARE Officer. In March of 2014, James joined the UMass Lowell Police Department, where he was currently employed, and also served as a Deputy Sheriff for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Middlesex Sheriffs Office. An avid history buff, James was happy to share his wealth of knowledge with students at local Hudson middle schools. He was proud to have helped organize the Hudson Police Toys for Tots program, a program for which he received numerous awards. He also received three Life Saving Awards through the Hudson Police Department. James was a member of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, where he held the position of Grand Mason. He was also a member of the Screen Actors Guild, attended Calvary School at Little Big Horn, and enjoyed traveling the country participating in historical reenactments, such as the Civil War, WWII, and Battleship Cove on the USS Massachusetts. He would joke that his life was certainly “eclectic.” He was predeceased by his role model dad, David J. Connor, MD. James leaves his mother, Mary Elizabeth “Liz” Connor, his twin sister Karen Stys, his daughter Marissa Elizabeth Stys and her mother Sheri Macpherson, as well as Kenneth T. Stys, David J. Connor, Jodi Connor, Jeffrey Strong. He also leaves a niece, Taylor Connor, nephews Jacob Stys, Ryan Connor, Stephen David Strong. As well as an uncle, James L. Handley, an aunt, Margaret Feeney and her husband John, an aunt, Judith Handley. Also, cousins, Maris Handley, James Handley III, Mary Kate Feeney, John J. Feeney, and Courtney Elizabeth Feeney. And, his extended family Celine Fortin, William Emmons, Daniel Dolan, Vincent Knoll, Raymond McDannell, R.J. Jackson, the UMass Lowell Police Department, the Hudson Police Department, and the Brotherhood of Blue. Visiting hours will be held on Monday, February 6th, in THE DUMONT-SULLIVAN FUNERAL HOME, 50 FERRY ST. IN HUDSON with 2pm - 4pm reserved for Law Enforcement Walk Through and 4pm - 8pm for family and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Tuesday, February 7th at 10am at St. John XXIII Parish in St. John the Evangelist Church, 27 Library St., in Hudson. All are asked to please meet at church. Burial will be in St. Patrick Cemetery in Hudson. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in James’s loving memory to either the Oncology Center at Southern NH Medical Center, c/o/ Dr. Roger Hakimian, 8 Prospect St., Nashua, NH 03060 or Laura’s World Fund, PO Box 42, Merrimack, NH 03054, which funds educational, health, and recreational services for underprivileged children world wide.

James Stys

June 16, 1965 - February 2, 2017