Fred Jüssi

Fred Jüssi studied at University of Tartu. The recorded working language is Estonian, Russian and English. Distinctions recorded are Order of the National Coat of Arms, 3rd Class, Order of the White Star, 4th Class, Keeper of Estonian Culture of Biology award and Eerik Kumari Award.

• Name — Fred Jüssi • Born — 29 January 1935 • Birthplace — Aruba, Netherlands Antilles • Died — 1 December 2024 • Citizenship — Estonia

Jüssi was born in Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, where his adoptive father worked for a Venezuelan oil company. 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), radio broadcaster for Eesti Raadio, freelance writer and nature campaigner. In Eesti Raadio he ran the program Looduse aabits (ABC book of nature) from 1976 to 1986. 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. 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. 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. 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. Jüssi died on 1 December 2024, at the age of 89.

Fred Jüssi is recorded as having received Order of the National Coat of Arms, 3rd Class, Order of the White Star, 4th Class and Keeper of Estonian Culture of Biology award. Identity and origins. His recorded languages were Estonian, Russian and English. He married Helju Jüssi. 3 children are recorded: Mari Jüssi, Mart Jüssi and Ivar Jüssi.