ALTAMONT — The simple phrases uttered to family and friends who do motocross summed up James Pearce’s nature:

“He always had a smile,” his father, Stephen Pearce, said. “He was always, ‘lighten up and let’s go.’”

James “Harri” William Pearce died on Sunday, Sept. 20, at Albany Medical Center, with his loving family by his side. He was 25.

He was an active motocross Pro Rider, riding in the New England Motocross Association and New England Sports Committee for many years as number 462.

“James lived motocross,” his family wrote in a tribute. “He enjoyed skydiving, snowboarding, wake boarding, jet skiing — he enjoyed life and lived it to its fullest potential.”

“He was a devoted Kawasaki man,” his family wrote, naming his favorite make of motorcycle. Mr. Pearce was sponsored by Kawasaki from 2006 to 2007.

He traveled throughout the East Coast and had friends from throughout the country. He drew people to him, his parents said, and would strike up conversations with “Hey, you ride dirt bikes?”

“There is a young man who has his motorcycle over at the house and he freely admitted that, ‘Hey I can fix this by myself, but I wanted to come to James’ house because I wanted his friendship to help fix this,” his father said.

Mr. Pearce was born on July 15, 1990, in Norwich, Connecticut. Growing up in Connecticut, he started riding motorcycles around 8 years old. His first taste of extreme sports came from hare scrambles — rough, muddy terrain in the woods where the highest speeds win the course — with his father, and he later fell in love with the outdoor tracks and jumps of motocross.

“I was his mechanic…” his father remembered. “He got good, he got real good. So, I was like, ‘All right, I’m not going to hold you back.’”

Mr. Pearce graduated from Terre Haut South High School after his family moved to Indiana from Norwich, and studied business at Ivy Tech Community College. Not an academic type, he was fascinated by with astronomy and history, his parents said.

From there, the family went to St. Louis, Missouri, and Mr. Pearce worked in landscaping as he also rode in pit races. Living on 15 acres just outside of Altamont for the past few years, he enjoyed being outdoors, and with his two dogs, a Plott hound and a pit bull, Rocky and Pork Chop. He had applied to join a union and work in heavy equipment operation, his family said, and he worked as a parts manager at Griffin Motor Sports in Schenectady.

“At 3, he was riding a bicycle — he was just a happy, happy child,” his mother said.

Two things that kept him attached to the risk-taking sports were the speed and the community, his parents said.

“He used to go to the pit bike races in Indiana,” his father said. “Even after the races are over and everybody went home, he’s still doing laps.”

After his death, Mr. Pearce’s organs were donated, a decision he’d made since his late teens.

“The person that’s received his heart, what a gift,” his mother said. “If they’re not going to be the happiest person in the world, I don’t know what else to say.”

****

Mr. Pearce is survived by his parents, Stephen “Randy” and Marie (née Dewhurst) Pearce, his brother, Thomas E. Renfrow, and his sister, Stephanie Nicole Pearce-Revero.

He is also survived by his grandparents, James and Rita Dewhurst, and his aunts and uncle, Linda Boyd and her family; Pauline Stackhouse and her family; Susan Dewhurst and her family; Anthony Dewhurst, his wife Kathryn, and his family; Wendy Hyland and her family; Pamela Ferrigno and her family; and his girlfriend Meagan Morge.

Memorial contributions may be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation, 3 Washington Square, Albany, New York 12205.

A memorial service will be celebrated on Oct. 1, at 7 p.m., at New Comer Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Road in Colonie. Calling hours will precede the service from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be private.