Discussion: Sad news
in: Orienteering; General
Nov 19, 2007 9:29 PM
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I was upset to learn of Juha Heinonen's passing away on October 30th last. Juha was a talented athlete and an equally talented mathematician. I had the privilege to meet him in May of last year at a conference in the University of Michigan where he worked.
If I remember corrcetly, he was a former member of Finland's Junior JWOC Ski-O team and of Finland's Junior NOC team.
http://www.math.lsa.umich.edu/events/juhaMem.html
If I remember corrcetly, he was a former member of Finland's Junior JWOC Ski-O team and of Finland's Junior NOC team.
http://www.math.lsa.umich.edu/events/juhaMem.html
Nov 20, 2007 2:19 PM
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Very shocking.
My wife Sari and I spoke with Juha at most of the large meets in Michigan and Illinois. We missed him at the most recent Chicago meet.
Juha was a very warm, kind and accomplished orienteer. His friendly face, and competitive times, will be missed at O meets in the midwest.
Juha, lepää rauhassa...may you rest in peace.
My wife Sari and I spoke with Juha at most of the large meets in Michigan and Illinois. We missed him at the most recent Chicago meet.
Juha was a very warm, kind and accomplished orienteer. His friendly face, and competitive times, will be missed at O meets in the midwest.
Juha, lepää rauhassa...may you rest in peace.
Nov 20, 2007 5:38 PM
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The following writeup is from this month's BAOC Bulletin by Sarah Williams.
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Many of you will remember Juha Heinonen, a top orienteer from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Juha and his family lived in Berkeley for a year and a half during 2002 and 2003.
Juha was diagnosed with kidney cancer last summer during the family's annual stay in his childhood home in Toivakka, near Jyväskylä, Finland. He was cared for first in Finland, then back in Michigan. He lost his battle with the cancer on October 30.
He was active in the Southern Michigan Orienteering Club. Among many successes, he won the U.S. championship for the M40+ class in 2000.
Juha enjoyed spending time in BAOC territory; he praised the BAOC for being such a large, active and well-organized club.
He loved being outdoors anywhere, and was especially at home in the forests of Finland, whether on foot, on skis or in a rowboat.
He leaves his wife, Karen Smith, three young children, his mother and siblings, and many devastated friends.
Karen can be reached at kesmith@umich.edu
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Many of you will remember Juha Heinonen, a top orienteer from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Juha and his family lived in Berkeley for a year and a half during 2002 and 2003.
Juha was diagnosed with kidney cancer last summer during the family's annual stay in his childhood home in Toivakka, near Jyväskylä, Finland. He was cared for first in Finland, then back in Michigan. He lost his battle with the cancer on October 30.
He was active in the Southern Michigan Orienteering Club. Among many successes, he won the U.S. championship for the M40+ class in 2000.
Juha enjoyed spending time in BAOC territory; he praised the BAOC for being such a large, active and well-organized club.
He loved being outdoors anywhere, and was especially at home in the forests of Finland, whether on foot, on skis or in a rowboat.
He leaves his wife, Karen Smith, three young children, his mother and siblings, and many devastated friends.
Karen can be reached at kesmith@umich.edu
This discussion thread is closed.