Obituary of Olavi August Huhtala

OIavi August Huhtala of Glenville died on Saturday evening, March 12, 2016 in Saratoga Springs, New York. He was 92 years old. Olavi Huhtala was born on February 10, 1924 in Boston, Massachusetts. The elder of two children born to Finnish immigrants, he spoke no English when he began school at age 6, but when asked in later life how he had managed, he said that he just watched and listened carefully and “figured out” how to speak the strange new language. For Olavi, “figuring things out” was a lifelong passion. The challenges and accomplishments of a brilliant career as an engineer were enormously gratifying. After beginning college at Northeastern University, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy late in World War II, and eventually graduated from M.I.T. near the top of his class. During this time he also met and married his Swedish sweetheart, Margaret Ohman, on July 8, 1945. He worked as an electrical engineer for the Kennecott Corporation in Waterbury, Connecticut, then was transferred in the early 60s to Cleveland, Ohio, where he designed and supervised the building of a nearby rod mill. He held several patents from this project. In 1970 he took a new job as General Manager of Corporate Engineering for Mohasco Industries in Amsterdam, New York; he retired from Mohasco in 1989. Olavi and Margaret spent their retirement years in Ocala, Florida, and returned north in 2013 to live with their son, David, daughter-in-law, Kim, and granddaughter, Candice, in Glenville. Olavi had a wide range of interests and talents: At various times in his life he played the violin, mandolin, guitar, and piano, and sang a marvelous, perfectly-pitched baritone in choirs and informal singing groups. In his youth he dove from high cliffs into deep water before becoming domesticated by family life. He played tennis as a young man, became an archer in mid-life, and took up golf as a senior citizen. He could, and did, repair anything that had moving parts. He was active in the churches to which he and his family belonged, and particularly enjoyed worshipping by singing in church choirs, where he gave memorable solos. He enjoyed square dancing and watching Westerns, his favorite being the “Lone Ranger”. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Margaret Ohman Huhtala; his children, Carolyn Huhtala (Jason) Carey; Susan Huhtala (Doug) Harvey; David (Kim) Huhtala; his 6 grandchildren, Peter (Lisa) Carey; Paul (Tina) Carey, Bo (Melanie) Harvey; Austin (KJ) Harvey; Kristen Harvey; Candice Huhtala; and 7 great-grandchildren: Zachary, Sam and Lily Carey; Micah and Annaliese Harvey; Jonah and Lucy Harvey. He was predeceased by his sister, Esther Huhtala Beane. The family would like to thank the ICU and Telemetry doctors and staff at Saratoga Hospital for their compassion and skill in taking care of Olavi and keeping him comfortable during his final days. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 19 at 1:30 P.M. at the Scotia United Methodist Church, 201 Ten Broeck St., Scotia, New York. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the East Glenville Fire Department, 433 Saratoga Road, Scotia, NY 12302.