James Edward Knapp Jr, 65, of Sandy Hook, was tragically killed on Saturday, May 7, 2022. A lifelong resident of Newtown, James was the devoted husband of Gabriela Sarmiento-Knapp, whom he married in 2013.

In addition to Gabriela, James is survived by his five children, his two siblings, Gabriela’s daughters, his in-laws, and their families: his children, Ryan Knapp and wife Brittany of Sandy Hook; Heather Bednar, husband Robert, and their daughters Addison Maud and Mackenzie Ann of Port St Lucie, Florida; Erik Knapp, his wife Michelle, and her sons Joseph and Jack Bongiovanni of Oxford, Conn.; Bryanna Villante, her partner Joel Good, and her sons Jack William Villante and Rowan James Good of Port St Lucie, Florida; and Hunter Knapp of Stamford, Conn.; his sister Catherine Knapp Taylor, and her husband Lieutenant Colonel L. Michael Taylor, Ret, of Montana, and his brother Daniel Knapp, and his wife Corrine, of Bridgeport; Gabriela’s daughters Michelle Aynat-Bebon and her husband Joseph of Milford, Nicolette Aynat-Nolan, her husband Thomas, and their children Jane and Linus of Bethany, and Melanie Aynat-Biehl, her husband Christopher and their children Henry and Wren of Cheshire; and his brothers-in-law Carlo Sarmiento and his wife Carol of Derby, and Manny Sarmiento and his wife Carrie of Derby; and his mother-in-law Josefina Sarmiento, also of Derby.

James was predeceased by his parents, James Edward Knapp, Sr, and Maud Bancroft Billings Knapp of Sandy Hook; and his father-in-law Manuel Sarmiento.

James was born on August 13, 1956 in Danbury Hospital. A graduate of Newtown High School, he attended Southern Connecticut State University and received his Masters from Western Connecticut State University. His career was split between time in the printing industry, including a period at Curtis Packaging, and as a beloved Technology Education teacher, most recently at Pomperaug Regional High School in Southbury, Conn. He was very proud of all that his former students have gone on to accomplish.

The family greatly appreciates all the love and support of his many friends and former students.

He loved to travel and in his spare moments could be found reading, fishing, hunting, out on his motorcycle, or working in the garage, all things he was looking forward to doing more of in his retirement. James had just returned from visiting his grandchildren in Florida and was looking forward to spending more time with them and was discussing a trip to Montana this summer to see his sister just hours before he passed.

Family and friends may call from 4 to 7 pm, Friday, May 13, at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown. Graveside services will be held at 11 am, Saturday May 14, in Zoar Cemetery. After graveside services, all are invited to the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Department, 18-20 Riverside Road, for a celebration of James’ life from noon to 5 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mike Rowe Works Foundation Work Ethic Scholarship Program, which helps people get trained for skilled trade jobs that are in demand, mikeroweworks.org/donate.