John V. Aho Obituary (1949 - 2011)

Born Feb 13, 1949, John V. Aho attended North Middlesex High School in Townsend, MA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about John V. Aho.

Graduation Year	Class of 1967
Date of Birth	Feb 13, 1949
Date of Passing	Dec 02, 2011
About	John V. Aho, a well-known resident of Townsend, Massachusetts, passed away on December 2, 2011, in La Jolla, California, at the age of 62. He was born on February 13, 1949, in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, to Viljo and Helen Aho of Townsend. John served two tours of duty in Vietnam as a member of the Special Forces before returning to Massachusetts, where he spent most of his life. He was an alumnus of the University of Massachusetts and worked for 20 years as the head custodian at Hawthorne Brook Middle School in Townsend. He was also actively involved in local politics, serving on the Council on Aging, the Historical Commission, and the Planning Board, and was known for his passionate and intelligent contributions to Town Meeting discussions. Aho was a published writer and playwright, with works including Orange Butterflies, Public School 13, and Lincoln, and he continued writing in California, leaving behind two large boxes of unpublished works. He was also a songwriter and musical performer with the band American Aliens and co-owned a solar power company, Solar Abundance. His dog, Olivia, was a registered service animal due to his post-traumatic stress disorder, and he was deeply devoted to his family, especially his daughters Jennifer and Danielle, and his grandchildren Mikko, Gavin, and Maizy. In recognition of his contributions to the community, the Mikko and John Aho Nature Walk and Park in Townsend is named in his honor, along with his grandson Mikko. The park, managed by the Townsend Conservation Land Trust, is a 1-mile round-trip trail marked with blue blazes leading to a stream. A celebration of his life was held on December 27, 2011, at the Townsend Meeting Hall, and memorial contributions were directed to the Friends of the Seniors in Townsend. His sister, Sharon Aho, passed away in 2024, and she was the sister of the late John V. Aho.