1939 – 2016

LISBON FALLS — Dr. Bernard F. Koza passed away at his home in Lisbon Falls on Sunday morning, Oct. 2.

He was born March 4, 1939, in Adams, Mass., son of the late Ignatius and Helen (Wysocki) Koza. Bud, or Bernie, Buddy or Bunny, as he was called in his younger years, graduated from St. Stanislaus Kostka School, Adams Memorial High School in 1957, Holy Cross College in 1961, and Tufts School of Dental Medicine in 1965.

He opened his dental practice in Lisbon Falls in 1966, where he served the community for many years, until his retirement in 2000. His heart was in his profession and he never turned a patient away. He used his talent to help people without obligation, often accepting canned pickles, pork pies or legs of lamb for services rendered.

His greatest joy was his children to whom he devoted his life, along with his wife, Veronica, encouraging them to pursue their ambitions and providing them with the education to pursue their dreams. He was also very proud of his 15 grandchildren and the creativity, intelligence and athleticism they’ve shown.

He will be remembered as a strong student, class president, third baseman, quarterback and Senior of the Year in high school; a true Red Sox fan who attended “more games than I can count” while at dental school studying pathology in the bleachers; the town dentist for 34 years; a pianist who played Joplin’s “Entertainer” and “Maple Leaf Rag” quite well, by his own admission; a baseball/softball coach, umpire and past president at several levels of the Lisbon Junior Athletic League; an authority on the rules of Babe Ruth baseball; a backyard ice rink builder; a champion for his kids and grandkids at sports events; a trivia and crossword expert; a gardener; a lover of time spent in the Maine woods with family, especially at Grace Pond and Kennebago; and a catcher — and eventual releaser — of brook trout on the fly.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Veronica (Priestly); his three daughters, Mary Beth Bubar of Litchfield and her children, Zachary, Cameron, Marcus and Allison, Melanie McDonald and her husband, Paul, of Chandler, Ariz. and their children, Jonathan, Cameron and Amanda, Marla Dickinson and her husband, Vince, of Yarmouth and their children, Madelyn, Will and Anna; his three sons, Michael Koza and wife, Christine, of Raymond and their sons, Brendan and Dylan, Matthew Koza of Yarmouth and his son, Dominic, Mark Koza and wife, Jennifer, of East Kingston, N.H. and their children, Edward and Margaret; his twin sisters, Judith Belanger and husband, Bob, of Adams, Mass. and their sons, Ryan, Mitchell and Russell, and Edith Hamilton and partner, Larry Dalpiaz, of Carrollton, Texas; a brother, I. John Koza and wife, Gail, of Webster, N.Y. and their sons, Jeff and Paul; brothers-in-law, Robert Priestly and his wife, Joyce, of Westford, Mass. and Timothy Priestly and his partner, T.L. Mikesell, of Auburn; and a sister-in-law, Mary Sophie Priestly of Wakefield, Mass.

He was predeceased by a brother, Raymond Koza.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.crosmanfuneralhome.com.