Victor A. Koivumaki, III, 70, passed away Monday, May 2, 2016 at his home, surrounded by his family.
He leaves his wife of 40 years, Sylvia A. (Fuge) Hollister; two step-sons: James Hollister and his wife, Molly Molloy, of Durham, NH, and Matt Hollister and his wife, Nicole Arpiarian, of Sudbury; four grandchildren: Nate, Tess, Penelope and Tripp; a brother, Fred Koivumaki and his wife, Molly, of Chaska, Minnesota, and his sister, Sue Warfield and her husband, Kris Schmidt, of Ely, Minnesota; nephews Will, Graham, and Alex, and niece Erin, and their families.
Victor was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, son of Victor A. and Elaine W. (Johnson) Koivumaki,
II. He was a 1969 cum laude graduate of Harvard University, and a Rockefeller Scholarship recipient at Harvard Divinity School, where he studied from 1968-1969.
For 30 years Victor worked as an Administrator at Harvard University. After his retirement from Harvard, he then spent the next decade working in the family business, Hollister Insurance, in Clinton, MA.
An elected member of the Town of Lancaster Planning Board since 1995, on May 2nd, Victor received a Citizen Volunteer award by the town of Lancaster honoring his more than twenty years of dedicated service. In addition to his many town activities, he was a Director of Harvard College from 2011 to 2014, Chairman of the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission since 2005, held state, regional, and national leadership positions with the American Red Cross since 1982, was a recipient of the American Red Cross Clara Barton Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership, and was a member and past-president of the Nashua River Watershed Association. Victor championed many environmental causes, and loved his Saab cars, pets, and above all, his family.
Vic never denied his roots in Minnesota, and returned often, many times bringing his East Coast friends with him. He would introduce Harvard grad students from New Zealand to the game of hockey on the back yard rink in Edina that his dad, Art Koivumaki, continued to maintain long after his children had grown and left home.
Vic made a point of spending his summer vacations at the family cabin at Burntside Lake where he enjoyed a sauna every evening. He supported the Arts and local charitable causes in Ely. Taking photos of sunsets on Burntside, enjoying dinners at Burntside Lodge, watching an eagle through binoculars out in the boat and enjoying a cocktail on the dock will be remembered forever.
Funeral services and burial are private. There are no calling hours. For those who wish, Victor’s family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Mass Audubon Society, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773; The Listening Point Foundation, P.O. Box 180, Ely, Minnesota 55731; the American Red Cross, 2025 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006; the Nashua River Watershed Association, 592 Main St., Groton, MA 01450; or to an environmental or animal rescue cause of your choice.