Kalevi Pajala

Kalevi Jaakko Pajala, 73, of Andover, Vermont, died peacefully Wednesday, April 25, 2018, at the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative and Hospice Care in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Born in Sievi, Finland, Nov. 19, 1944, to parents Toivo Olavi Pajala and Mirjam Saily Pajala, they arrived in the United States in April 1957. He attended schools in Andover and Chester, graduating from Chester High School in 1963. After graduation, he attended Vermont Technical College in Randolph, Vermont. He graduated with a degree in Electrical Tech in 1965.

After graduation, he enlisted in the Air Force and went to Lackland AFB in Texas. After that, he attended jet engine mechanic school at Chanute AFB in Illinois. After completing training, he was stationed at Craig AFB in Selma, Alabama, where he worked on fighter aircraft and training jets. After the Air Force, he returned to Vermont and worked at Vermont Research Corp. in North Springfield for 24 years. He later worked at Macdermid Equipment, also in Springfield.

While at Chester High School, he distinguished himself as a gifted athlete. He excelled in both soccer and baseball. His playing style, “movie star” looks and the fact that nobody could pronounce his name, earned him the nickname “Killer.” Years later, when someone would talk about him, they would only know him as “Killer” and not Kal or Kalevi.

For many years, he was a ski instructor and later, alpine skiing coach, at Okemo Mountain in Ludlow, Vermont. During the summer, he played softball in the Green Mountain Softball League and played men’s league soccer with his sons on the Chester town team.

An experienced outdoorsman, he rarely missed an opening day of trout season and every fall, he would be in the woods hunting deer in Vermont and Maine. On at least one occasion, he bagged a buck on his birthday. “Killer” was an avid sports fan and rooted for all teams from New England. Sometimes he had to be reminded that the players and refs on the TV could not hear him coaching from the couch. Early Saturday mornings, he could be found watching the Formula One auto races. The Finnish drivers were his obvious favorites.

“Stubborn Finn” described him to a ‘T.’ He learned carpentry skills from his father Toivo, and was a great mechanic. He had a knack for keeping vehicles on the road; sometimes well past their useful lives.

He leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends, and will be missed by all.

He was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Vivian Pajala, of Andover; his sons Bradley Pajala, of Londonderry, Vermont, Gregory Pajala and wife Journey Pajala, of Winooski, Vermont; stepsons David Allen (Pam), of Florida, Kevin Allen (Gayle), of North Carolina, and Matt Allen, of Milton, Vermont; two grandsons Olavi and Jaakko, whom he adored; five step-granddaughters, three step-grandsons, four step-great-grandchildren; three sisters Ritva Burton and husband Bill, of Springfield, Vermont, Ulla and Kenny Cook, of Ludlow, Vermont, Lisa Lemmer and husband John, of Barnard, Vermont; and his aunt, Irja Tofferri, who’s address is “travelling.”

Funeral services will be held at the Andover Community Church on Saturday, May 5, at 2 p.m. A reception will follow in the back of the church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Andover Project Committee, 953 Weston Andover Road, Andover, VT 05143. Arrangements are by Davis Memorial Chapel in Springfield.

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