Fred Jüssi
Estonian biologist, writer and photographer (1935–2024)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fred Jüssi (29 January 1935 – 1 December 2024) was an Estonian biologist, nature writer and photographer.[1][2]
Fred Jüssi | |
|---|---|
Jüssi in 2010 | |
| Born | January 29, 1935 Aruba, Netherlands Antilles |
| Died | December 1, 2024 (aged 89) |
| Citizenship | Estonia |
Life and career
Jüssi was born in Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, where his adoptive father worked for a Venezuelan oil company.[3] His biological father was an early MLB player of Cherokee descent named Jim Bluejacket. His family returned to Estonia and settled in Tallinn when Jüssi was 3 years old. After finishing high school in Tallinn he studied biology and zoology at the University of Tartu, graduating in 1958. He worked as a school teacher (from 1958 to 1960 in Emmaste, Hiiumaa), as inspector for nature protection (1962–1975),[3] radio broadcaster for Eesti Raadio, freelance writer and nature campaigner.[1] In Eesti Raadio he ran the program Looduse aabits (ABC book of nature) from 1976 to 1986.[3]
In October 1980, Jüssi was a signatory of the Letter of 40 Intellectuals, a public letter in which forty prominent Estonian intellectuals defended the Estonian language and protested the Russification policies of the Kremlin in Estonia.[4] The signatories also expressed their unease against Republic-level government in harshly dealing with youth protests in Tallinn that were sparked a week earlier due to the banning of a public performance of the punk rock band Propeller.[4]
In the beginning of the 1990s he was for a few years the president of Estonian Nature Fund. Jüssi published numerous books, articles and audio recordings related to nature.[3] He was the first recipient of Eerik Kumari Award, given to him in 1989.
Jüssi was probably the most influential person in Estonia engaged in nature writing and talking.[5]
Jüssi died on 1 December 2024, at the age of 89.[6]
