Arthur Alexander Riihimaki, Jr., of West Hartford, CT, passed away on November 1, 2024, peacefully in his sleep after a remarkable 24-year battle with lymphoma and leukemia. He lived a long and, in his words, ‘mostly satisfying’ life. He was born in Quincy, MA, on November 15, 1943, the son of Arthur and Rita Riihimaki, and was older brother to George and Paul Riihimaki. He was married to his wife of 55 years, Barbara MacDonald Riihimaki, was the proud father of David Riihimaki of Corinth, NY, Stephen Riihimaki of Vienna VA, and Catherine Riihimaki of Annandale, NJ, and grandfather of Dylan, Anna, Grace, Lila, Lauren, Kai, and Quinn. He loved his three daughters-in-law: Meghan (Moore) Riihimaki, Helen Burr Catherine (Cate) Shea Riihimaki, and Kira Lawrence.
He relished his Finnish-American heritage, especially in correcting people with the pronunciation of ‘sauna’ (it’s sow-na, not saw-na) and in sharing sisu, a Finnish term that roughly translates as grit, stubbornness, and perseverance. Like other Finns, he was a man of few words but those words were wise, witty, and filled with love for his family, friends, and community.
Art was passionate about leaving the world better for all of his efforts. When his kids started to play soccer, he became a referee, a thankless job that he took on out of love and support. He is the only person we know who cheered for the refs and umpires when watching sports. When he was diagnosed with lymphoma, he engaged with Team in Training (TNT) for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He rode 24 century (100 miles) bike rides and completed a half-marathon and triathlon for TNT while raising $180,000 for blood cancer research. He was a faithful member at Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Hartford for over 53 years, serving on many boards and committees and becoming a leader in advocating for social justice. His most enjoyable position was on the committee that guided those who were seeking ordination as Presbyterian pastors.
Art loved music, particularly the three Bs of Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Bach. He was a tenor who sang for many years in the church choir and relished that the tenors are usually the heroes in operas. He also sang in the Simsbury Light Opera and the Farmington Valley Choral. He insisted on standing for the hymn ‘Be Still My Soul’ because the melody is Finlandia, the unofficial Finnish national anthem.
In addition to his love of music, Art enjoyed learning about and experiencing cultures from around the world with Barbara. They were fortunate to be able to visit 23 different countries together, and he was diligently learning to speak German, even in his final days. He loved New England sports teams, especially the Boston Red Sox and Celtics, and the UConn Huskies, as well as solving puzzles and playing strategy games with his family. He adored watching his grandchildren excel in sports, acting, music, and academics.
He had a brilliant mind that led him to MIT (where he learned to play bridge), a BA from Eastern Nazarene College, and an MA in English and JD from the University of Connecticut. Through his career, he was a computer programmer, regulatory attorney, and church administrator. During the Vietnam War, he served in the army in Louisiana and in the First Infantry Division in Vietnam.
Art was a generous, caring soul who was faithful to God throughout his life. He will be deeply missed by all.
A service in celebration of his life will be November 23, 2024, at 1 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2080 Boulevard, West Hartford, CT 06107. A link to attend the service on Zoom will be available at westpresby.org. A reception and receiving line will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in his honor to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2080 Boulevard, West Hartford, CT 06107 (or online at westpresby.org) or to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, P.O. Box 22470, New York, NY 10087-2470 (or online at https://pages.lls.org/tnt/ctwhv/ambbr25/teamsisu).
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