ARTHUR S. KOYKKA

KOYKKA, Arthur S. Son of Arthur A. Koykka and Lucie (Reynolds) Koykka, husband of Jean (Richardson) Koykka, father of Michael and Joel, passed away Jan. 20, 2015. Arthur is survived by 2 grandchildren, Violet and Anton, and daughter-in-law, Lisa. He was an intelligent and gifted Renaissance man - an author, musician, composer, playwright, humorist, traveler, actor, photographer and gardener. He taught Biology at Fitchburg High School for 34 years and ran a successful piano tuning business for 46 years. Mr. Koykka composed the music to an adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown," and wrote the music and book to "TECH," an adaptation of Karel ?apek's Czek play, "R.U.R." Arthur compiled gravesite info and bios of notable Americans in the reference book "Project Remember," which can be found in the White House Library. He was also in demand as a public speaker on the subject of notable Americans and their final resting places. He accompanied many local musical theater productions and the Leonard Gaskins Chorale on piano and was the organist for the First Baptist Church in Fitchburg for 8 years. Mr. Koykka was a member of the N.E. Gilbert and Sullivan Society and the Metropolitan Opera Guild. He traveled extensively with his family and visited every state in the continental U.S. as well as Hawaii, Canada, England, Germany and Italy. His other interests included gardening, opera and Broadway musicals. Calling hours will be held Friday, Jan. 30 from 5-8PM at the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Home, 763 Mass. Ave., LUNENBURG. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015 at 1PM at the First Baptist Church, 1400 John Fitch Highway, Fitchburg. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heifer International, 1 World Ave., Little Rock, AR 72202 or the Montachusett Chorale, c/o Fr. Peter Inzerillo, 187 Lancaster St., Leominster, MA 01453. Please visit www.masciarellifamilyfuneral

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