Mr. Kwang Sook Koh of Andover and Boston passed away peacefully on Monday March 22, 2010 in the presence of family at the Sancta Maria Nursing Facility in Cambridge. He was 74 years old.
Mr. Koh was born on Cheju Island in South Korea on March 9, 1936, the son of the late Kong-A Koh and Kap-Seng Kim. Mr. Koh was educated in Korea and served in the Korean Air Force. He came to the United States in 1961 and was a resident of Andover and Boston for over 37 years. Mr. Koh worked for the International Paper Company in Somerville and for the Tyer Rubber Company in Andover.
Mr. Koh was passionate about both his native homeland and his adopted country and worked constantly to build Korean American relationships. In 1966 he organized the Korean Student Association of Boston and served as its first president. He was also an early and longtime member and deacon of the Korean church in Brookline, one of the first Korean churches in New England.
Mr. Koh had a tremendous interest in history and politics and was an avid reader of both Korean and American newspapers. He was also an avid gardener and fishermen. He became a Boston sports fan late in life and actually cried at the Patriots first SuperBowl Victory parade. In recent years, Mr. Koh was a devoted and doting grandfather.
Mr. Koh is survived by his wife, Yung Bok Koh, of Andover. In addition, Mr. Koh is survived by his four children; Katherine Koh and her fiancé Christopher Urban, both of Brookline, Arnold Koh and his wife Kristin Koh of Acton, Bernard Koh and his wife Jennifer Yun of Oakland California, and Dr. Pauline Koh-Banerjee and her husband Dr. Amit Banerjee of Sacramento California; six grandchildren; Brendan, Nora, Nicholas, and Chloe Koh and Ana and Naryan Banerjee; and two brothers, Kwang Il Koh of Manhattan, and Kwang Son Koh of Missouri and Seoul Korea, and by many nieces and nephews.
His funeral service will be celebrated on Friday March 26th at 10:30am at South Church, 41 Central Street, Andover. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, March 25, from 4-8pm in the Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home, 390 North Main Street, Andover. Burial will be in Spring Grove Cemetery in Andover. Donations in Mr. Koh’s memory may be made to the Sancta Maria Nursing Facility in Cambridge MA in his name. For additional information, please visit http://www.burkemagliozzi.com.