Heikki Helava

Tribute

Fifty-four years ago in New York, you were a grad student in Columbia, and I just arrived from Japan two days before. Despite the language barrier, we communicated easily and got along well. Over the years, your work took us many places, and only child, Seppo, was born. You were a very good father who cared for him and loved him deeply. As we settled into family life, my trust in you and my sense of security grew as I became familiar with life in this new country. I hoped that our life would continue to remain comfortable and secure. But on April 21, 2016, our life turned upside down when you were rear- ended at a traffic stop and paralyzed from the chest down. I became your caregiver, and we adapted to the new challenges in our lives together. You fought hard to maintain your strength and capability, and your scientist’s mind kept searching for every way to try to keep yourself as strong as possible. Through the paralysis and the next decade, you faced every challenge with courage and characteristically Finnish stoicism, sisu. Despite ups and downs in our lives, I always believed that you and I would get through things together. I had a wonderful life with you and am grateful for it from the bottom of my heart. Sachiko

Friends & Family

Seppo Helava, Jin Helava, Juno Helava, Ei-Nyung Choi, Jussi Helava, and Kari Helava.