We started this new year with very sad news. Our colleague and friend Jorma Laakkonen, former national representative of Finland, organizer of many conferences, is no longer with us. He passed away on the first day of the year, after suffering from cancer for a while. In the past years, during the presidencies of Peter van Dam and Karin Carlsson, Jorma chaired a working group created to specifically come up with ideas for some mew EUPRIO initiatives. He was a real leader, with extensive experience and skills in all the fields of communication and marketing. His innovative ideas and concepts helped achieve the goals both of his institution, the University of Helsinki, and of all the organizations he was member of. We lost a dear friend and a big professional; his memory will live among us forever.
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January 18, 2012 15:22
This is very sad news. Jorma was one the stalwarts of EUPRIO during my early years at the UK’s representative on the Steering Committee and was a great ambassador for Finland. His early work on re-positioning EUPRIO for the challenges ahead laid the firm foundations we are now building on. Thanks for everything you did for our association and may you rest in peace.
January 18, 2012 16:27
I had the chance to see him among his colleagues in Helsinki, and I was impressed by the strength of his team and the extent to which they appeared to like working with him. We will not forget him, and as Nic very rightly says, his contribution lives on in today’s EUPRIO.
January 18, 2012 20:02
I can’t find the right words to express what I feel.
Jorma is the first EUPRIO member I met when arriving at Vienna airport for my first conference. I didn’t know anyone and I couldn’t even imagine how things were going to happen the next few days. He welcomed me very warmly and stayed with me until we arrived at the university. He is the one who helped me feeling immediately part of our big family. I will never forget my first EUPRIO hours. Thank you Jorma.
January 18, 2012 20:23
After the first news about his death I just postet in Euprios Facebook account the following: “Jorma was a jolly good fellow and it was a great pleasure to discuss and work with him in the Steering Committee for many years. It make me sad the read, that Jorma is not more alive!”
I would like to add that I always was sure he would be a great President for EUPRIO following Paolo. I was surprised and sad seeing he stepping down from the Steering Committee. We have lost a real big friend and a person who brought a couple of good ideas to EUPRIO! Josef
January 19, 2012 12:52
We will miss you, Jorma
January 19, 2012 13:57
One of the nicests persons I met. He always had time for other Euprians. I will remember him smiling.
January 19, 2012 15:49
It’s difficult to find the right words … even in german, much more in english. I remember him very well, always helpful, always very friendly and nearly always with a smile …
January 20, 2012 13:36
I met Jorma over 10 years ago when he was the director of the communications of the Finnish Academy. I am very grateful of having the opportunity to know him as a great professional but also on the private level. We made several trips across Europe together to Euprio meetings and conferences, and became friends, and kept in touch outside the work, too. I will always remember our conversations and laughter during flights. He was quite the gourmet and enjoyed life.
We lost a dear friend but also a big individual and professional. I can only ask “Why do the best of us leave first?” His memory lives among us forever.
January 25, 2012 16:23
Jorma´s death is something that you would never like to hear about it.
I´ve share experiences at the SC meetings and I´ve learnt a lot. Once, he surprised me when he was talking to me in Spanish. He spoke to me about his love for my country and our language. Our friends will pass away if we have them in our hearts. There is Jorma.
Descansa en paz, querido Jorma.
February 3, 2012 14:20
Really, really sad news — Jorma was a real strength during my days as EUPRIO’s President. We can all say we are proud to have known Jorma. RIP.
March 19, 2012 15:56
I have just read the news about Jorma’s death. I am shocked and deeply sad.
I will always remember his tender smile, his nice and modern hair cut and our talks about Portugal. Jorma had lived in Portugal for a short period due to the job he was doing at that time, before being a communication officer at the University of Helsinki.
May God be with him!