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Arthur S. Koykka

FUNERAL HOME

Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Home - Lunenburg

763 Mass. Ave.

Lunenburg, Massachusetts

Arthur Koykka Obituary

Name: Calling hours for Arthur S. Koykka
Start: 2015-01-30T22:00:00.000Z
End: 2015-01-31T01:00:00.000Z
Location: Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Home - Lunenburg

Arthur S. Koykka
of Lunenburg

LUNENBURG -- Arthur S. Koykka, son of Arthur A. Koykka and Lucie (Reynolds) Koykka, husband of Jean (Richardson) Koykka, father of Michael and Joel, passed away January 20, 2015.

Arthur is survived by two 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 Capek'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 eight 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.

KOYKKA -- Calling hours will be held on Friday, January 30, 2015 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Home, 763 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. 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 Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72202 or the Montachusett Chorale, c/o Fr. Peter Inzerillo, 187 Lancaster Street, Leominster, MA 01453. Please visit www.masciarellifamilyfuneralhomes.net for further information.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Sentinel & Enterprise from Jan. 22 to Jan. 26, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Arthur Koykka

25 Entries

Denise Milanese

January 29, 2015

Dear Arthur-
He had too many delightful qualities to list here. He was a renaissance man in the truest sense of the word. His passing leaves a hole in the firmament. Love and comfort to Jean, Joel, and Michael in a terribly difficult time.

Ellen Baker

January 28, 2015

Rest in Peace my friend....my sincere sympathy to your lovely wife Jean and your sons and grandchildren...may they find peace knowing you are no longer suffering....Love to all

January 28, 2015

The Severson Chacon families send out our love and prayers for all who loved Arthur. My guess is he is already writing an opera and whatever brainiac thing he can think of.
Love to you all

Debbie LeBlanc

January 28, 2015

We recently heard of Arthur's passing. Lena and I extend our deepest sympathy to the family. ~ Lena Kokk and Debbie LeBlanc (Kokk)

Paula Blowers

January 27, 2015

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. So sorry to hear of Arthurs passing.
The Blowers Family

January 27, 2015

I was a jock but Arthur tolerated me. We all looked forward to his biting humor at the faculty meetings. He will certainly shake up the heavenly world. My best to his family and many friends.

Ed Gastonguay

January 27, 2015

"...and let the whirlwind mourn its requiem..."
Farewell, Arthur!
-- Marion (former editor, The Trumpet Bray)

Colin Bourn

January 27, 2015

My deepest sympathy. RIP

Charles Hickey

January 26, 2015

A great teacher brought out the best in me.

Richard Gilbert

January 26, 2015

Arthur was a mentor to many of us in the science department during the '70s. I am especially grateful for his guidance, and creative lessons which he shared with his colleagues.
My sincerest condolences to his family.

January 26, 2015

A great teacher the best.

Charles Hickey.

January 26, 2015

best teacher I ever had . bless his soul.

Dennis Casey, FHS '66

January 26, 2015

I had Mr. Koykka for Biology sophomore or junior year at FHS. Always remember his great sense of humor and the way he made the subject matter interesting to us kids.

Jeannette Rook

January 26, 2015

Jean My heart truly goes out to you. Arthur was a character, with an English sense of Humor. He was passionate about his hobbies. How we connect with through my work in genealogy. He was an amazing story teller. I know I will truly miss him Love Jeanette

January 26, 2015

Jean - So sorry to hear about this. I have many fond memories with you and him at your home and elsewhere, making music and just having fun. He was a unique and uniquely talented man.

Dawn Wirth

January 26, 2015

GOd Rest Your Soul Arthur - safe travels.

January 26, 2015

I had Mr. Koykka at FHS my sophomore year. My tenure at
FHS had very few high points as my learning problems were
not addressed until later in my educational career. He was
one of those educators who had no pets, applied the rules
equally to all and did his best every day to move us forward. Having become a public school teacher myself,
I tried in the course of my career, to be as even tempered as he was. Just a real nice guy, I'm glad that I had an
opportunity to be one of his students. Comfort and peace to you all

Paul A. Spadfore

Kimberly Eazell

January 26, 2015

Jean, while I was having Roger Sinclair's service on Saturday. I heard Arthur had passed. I also made the announcement at the end of Roger's service that Arthur had passed. He called me a few weeks ago and talked to him after Roger passed. I know those 2 are up there showing Arthur's slides and Roger's narrating. I'm honored to have called Arthur and you my friends. Jean my heart is with you and the kids. Arthur was well thought of. We loved him and will miss him. Lot and hugs from California, Kim, Ron, Jade and Shelby Eazell

Bruce Goyette

January 26, 2015

Please accept my sincere condolences, Jean and family, and know that I am very sorry for your loss. Arthur was a fellow organist who inspired me to pursue sacred music and introduced me to many churches where I played as interim organist. He was truly a Renaissance man whose interests included writing, acting, music, ancestry, and gardening. He will be dearly missed by many people. Rest in peace, my friend.

Todd Niemi

January 26, 2015

I'm very sorry to learn the sad news! I had Mr. Koykka for Biology and Advanced Biology at FHS in the early 80s, and I enjoyed both classes. I have fond memories of the interesting and fun field trips we took in AB class, e.g., visiting the ocean, Benson's Animal Farm, a hydroponics greenhouse, etc. More recently, I enjoyed attending a production of his musical play TECH. He was a very talented man in many ways, and I admired and respected him. My condolences to all of his family.

January 23, 2015

Dearest Jean, and family, we are so sorry for your loss, our loss, part of our family for over 55 years, he will be greatly missed and fondly remembered
love Diane and family

Paul Niemi Jr

January 23, 2015

I'm very sorry to hear of Mr. Koykka's passing. I had him as a science teacher for 2 years at FHS in the late 70's and learned a lot in his classes.

January 23, 2015

Jean--we're so very sorry to hear of Arthur's passing. We're living in Florida and don't get much news from back home. Please extend our sympathy to Joel and Michael. My thought and prayers are with all of you at this sad time. Lorraine & Norman LeBlanc

Lee McTighe

January 22, 2015

So sorry to hear this, but I know he had not been well for some time. He will be missed, by many.

Patricia Rossi

January 22, 2015

Jean, I am so sorry for your loss. Was this sudden, or was he ill for some time? am out of the loop here in Florida. He now will join Dick Talcott and the other class members who have gone before him. Again, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this sad time.

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