In this new series, FAR highlights the behind-the-scenes work of those folks who we know well, but not as well as they deserve. These are the folks who have surely earned fanfare, but don’t crave it. They prefer to do what they do while staying out of the spotlight. To nominate someone as a Featured Finn, email the editor at david.maki@finlandiafoundation.org.
This month, we highlight a Finnish-Canadian whose unassuming personality belies his cultural and professional resume.
Kari Juurakko
Beyond being a world-class athlete for the last 50 years, Kari Juurakko is fundamentally a sincere, honest, humble, always-ready-to-help person.
Kari belongs to and has been active in the Finnish groups in Ontario.
Kari Juurakko graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tampere Technical College and received automatic acceptance for the Polytechnical Engineering School in Helsinki. Kari did not continue his studies but became the head engineer for the new car wash manufacturer Tammermatic Oy in Tampere.
Kari immigrated to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1977, became the head engineer at Tammermatic Inc., and moved to Canada in 1982 to work as a head engineer for Sherman Supersonic Industries.
Under his engineering leadership, Sherman became the leading supplier of heavy-duty bus wash systems in North America. After leaving Sherman, he started his own one-man engineering company, Kari Design.
Kari’s athletic career is storied. He has likely received more rowing championship medals than anybody in the history of rowing.
During the last years of his competitive rowing career, Kari started designing better, lighter, and faster competitive rowing boats. More than 400 rowing boats designed by Kari have been built so far.
I have known Kari for over 50 years. During our long friendship, I have never heard him talk about himself, brag about his achievements, or ask anything for himself. Talking to Kari, one could never guess that he has been a world-class athlete for years.
Even in his retirement years, Kari is always there to help his neighbors after snowstorms, clearing their driveways, helping with small repairs around the house, and showing concern for their well-being.
In many ways, Kari is your typical and quiet old-fashioned Finn now enjoying his well-earned retirement years in London, Ontario.