Paul Koski
Paul passed away peacefully on Good Friday, at the age of 78. Paul was one of seven children of Carl and Helmi Koski. He was raised in San Bruno and graduated from Capuchino High School in 1963. He attended San Francisco State University where he was on the track team and the cross country team, graduating with a degree in Biology and also earning his teaching credential.
He spent 40 years as a science teacher for SFUSD, teaching at Mission and then George Washington High Schools before retiring in 2008. He stayed involved in athletics while teaching, coaching both high school track & field and cross country. Paul was a naturalist and loved spending time in nature and teaching others about its wonders. He was involved with the Mycological Society of San Francisco for more than 30 years and was an influential member of the SF Bee Keepers Association for many years.
Paul is survived by his son, Peter, his sisters Mary Fowler, Ruth Dow and Kathryn Koski as well as his brothers, John, David and Tom Koski. Paul also leaves behind two beloved grandchildren, Ava and Cruz Koski. Paul loved spending time with his siblings and their families in the Bay Area as well as his extended family in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan.
A memorial will be held on Sunday, April 30th beginning at 9:00am at 2331 Market Street in San Francisco.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the SF Bee Keepers Association https://sfbee.wildapricot.org/donate or the MSSF, https://www.mssf.org/donations.html.

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

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Apr. 25, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Paul Koski

Sponsored by Evergreen Mortuary of McAvoy O'Hara The Evergreen Mortuary.

18 Entries

suvi Kettunen

March 30, 2025

I am so sorry to hear of Paul´s passing, because i just found him. He seems my granfather, and i have got some same DNA result with a man named Paul Koski/USA at 23and me. I know that my granfathers granfather left America and lived 107? years old there.

Sasha

April 19, 2024

Hi Mr. Koski,
Thinking of you on your heavenly day, and often on other days. Thanks for being such an influential person in my life, inspiring me in sports, running, and nature. I wish I could tell you that I decided to pursue a career in Environmental Law, to protect our shared love of nature.

Thank your for being such a kind human.

Mike

June 4, 2023

Paul was a good man. He was teaching the beekeeping class in 2004 at the Garden for the Environment, that's when I first meet Paul. We went on swarm calls after that. Sorry for your loss.

John Koski

May 8, 2023

John Koski

May 8, 2023

John Koski

May 8, 2023

I sure do miss my brother Paul. A visit to Estivant Pines for mushrooms and White Pines in Michigan.

Eileen Shanahan

May 4, 2023

I am so sorry to hear of Paul´s passing. I had the pleasure of spending time exploring nature with Paul at Audubon Canyon Ranch and with the SF Mycology Society. He was always so warm, kind, and happy to share his knowledge. I enjoyed reading the article in the SF chronicle about his life and contributions to his community. Sending my condolences

Theresa Halula, MSSF Member

May 3, 2023

I will be forever grateful for the
constant and consistent time Paul gave to the Mycological Society of San Francisco. Paul took hundreds of people on walks to find and consider fungi. Paul led one of the first MSSF Forays I attended many years ago; his kind and generous manner made me feel welcome that day.
Paul inspired me to continue to learn about mushroom identification and taxonomy, a passion I continue to indulge in all these years later.
I will miss Paul's
calm leadership and kindness a great deal.

April 30, 2023

What more can one do than leave a legacy of curiosity and love for life and things natural? I feel lucky to have know Paul for even a fleeting minute. Choose love.

Gwen Heistand

April 27, 2023

I was sad to hear of Paul's passing. I was so fortunate to spend time with him when he volunteered for Audubon Canyon Ranch's Martin Griffin Preserve. Such a kind and gentle and intelligent man. I loved following him around in search of mushrooms ... and his honey was so yummy. He will be missed.

Bob Darling

April 27, 2023

Paul was a long time friend and follow distance runner. He was a kind person who enjoyed helping others. His love of science and bee keeping made our world better.

Craig and Bobbi Sparks

April 27, 2023

We are grateful to Paul for mentoring Craig in beekeeping, for spending time with us at our homes in Michigan, for taking Craig on a bee-swarm capture in San Fransisco, for nature walks around Harbor Springs, and for a beautiful day skipping stones and watching freighters along the shore of Lake Superior in Marquette. He was a good and gentle man and we are forever grateful for our times together. Rest in peace dear cousin.

Marc and Pilar

April 26, 2023

One of our favorite photos of Paul tending bees at Garden for the Environment where he gave Intro to Beekeeping classes to hundreds of folks over the years.

Joann

April 26, 2023

Joann

April 26, 2023

Mary Fowler

April 26, 2023

Paul was a wonderful brother, father, grandfather and friend. We will miss you. Mary Fowler (sister)

Peggy Clinton

April 26, 2023

I was blessed and fortunate to have worked with Paul for many years at George Washington High School. I would just like to give my condolences to the Paul's family. May he RIP.

Sasha Porshnikoff

April 26, 2023

I am so sorry to hear of Mr. Koski'd passing. He was such a kind man. I was a student of his at George Washington High School. I didn't have the best home life growing up, but Mr. Koski's encouragement in cross country and biology was instrumental in keeping me in school. He was a father figure that I lacked growing up. I went on to graduate high school and even got a Biology degree from SFSU. I later ran into him through the SF Beekeepers Society. The world needs more teachers and kind humans like Mr. Koski. I will always remember him lovingly and gratefully.

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