HYY flies flags at half-mast to honour rector Jari Niemelä on 5 August

The former rector of the University of Helsinki passed away in July.

The Student Union of the University of Helsinki flies flags at half-mast today, on the day of his funeral, to honour his memory.

Jari Niemelä, Professor of Urban Ecology, was Rector of the University of Helsinki from 2018 to 2022 and retired late this spring. He passed away after a prolonged illness at the age of 64 on 5 July 2022.

Jari Niemelä’s funeral will be held on 5 August with only immediate family attending. At the family’s request, instead of flowers his memory may be honoured by making a donation to the University of Helsinki sustainability fund or to WWF Finland.

Donations to the sustainability fund can be made online or by bank transfer to “Helsingin yliopiston rahastot”, Nordea: IBAN = FI15 1660 3001 0767 70, BIC = NDEAFIHH. In the message field, enter “Sustainability Fund, in memory of Jari Niemelä, [your name], [your contact details]”.