Riza Kaya

Riza Kaya, 73, of Sylvania passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Riza was born on February 18, 1950, to Suleyman and Nezihe Kaya in Istanbul, Turkey. About 40 years ago, he came to the United States to finish his PhD in Organic Chemistry from North Texas University in Denton, TX. After getting his PhD, Riza taught organic chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, and then moved to Naperville, IL and worked for Amoco Chemicals, where he met Margaret. They were married on November 21, 1987, in Wheaton, IL and then moved to Sylvania, OH so Riza could work at Wacker Silicones in Adrian, MI.

Riza loved keeping busy, doing projects around the house and spending time with his family and friends. He also enjoyed listening to classical music and expanding his knowledge of chemistry and physics. He built a small chemistry lab in the basement where he spent many happy hours tinkering with his experiments. Riza was a loving, kind and gentle man, and was the best husband, father and friend anyone could ask for.

He is survived by his 97 year-old mother, Nezihe, who lives in Istanbul, Turkey, his wife of 35 years, Margaret Kaya; his daughter Lisa (Kurt) Noble of Chicago; his brother Zafer (Memnune) Kaya and his nephew Gerkem (Eda) Kaya from Istanbul, Turkey as well as his grandchildren, Kate and Maddie Hoffman and their loving, adoptive parents, Cathy and Kevin Hoffmann.

There will be a visitation from 12-12:30 pm on Thursday, April 20, 2023 with services starting at 12:30 following Muslim traditions at the Islamic Society of North West Ohio, 850 S McCord Rd, Holland, OH 43528. Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens 8308 S River Road | Waterville, OH 43566 following the service. A reception will be held at the house at Brookwood Metroparks, 5604 Swan Creek Drive, Toledo, Ohio 43614 from 2-4:30pm.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Mennonite Central Committee Syria Earthquake Response MCC PO Box 500 Akron PA 17501-0500 and Hospice of Northwest Ohio 800 S Detroit Ave, Toledo, OH 43609.