Kai Mäkelä
It is with a heavy heart that we bring you the sad news that, “The flying Fin,” Kai Makela, passed away on Friday morning, 15 November 2013.
Kai found himself at Chikopi quite by accident in 1970, he was visiting a Finish friend in Ahmic Harbour, and was spotted around the harbour running like the wind, Kai was a Finish cross country runner and marathoner. Buck invited him up to Chikopi to put the boys through their paces and that was it, he was hooked.
Kai was an English professor in Finland, an avid photographer and a cancer survivor. Throughout his illness and treatments he continued his running and exercise regimen. When we visited him in Finland, April 2009, he convinced me to ride his bicycle alongside him as he ran through the snow, April in Finland has a snow depth of over 20 feet. After his “jog”, we went on a walk to the University lake, where he encouraged me to walk out onto the ice, other more adventurous members of the University were actually taking a dip in the still frozen lake between purging in the sauna.
On a trip to Tanzania earlier this year, Kai was infected by a parasitic fly, his weakened organs were unable to fight off the infection and it is with sincere condolences to his wife Marja, sons Panu and Sampo, their wife’s and his 5 grandchildren that we share in their sorrow and prayers.
If you wish to send condolences or a messages please send them to: Marja Mäkelä, Satukaari 12, 15550 Nastola, Finland or to Kai’s son, Panu by email:
panumakela1@gmail.com 
It is with a heavy heart that we bring you the sad news that, “The flying Fin,” Kai Makela, passed away on Friday morning, 15 November 2013.
Kai found himself at Chikopi quite by accident in 1970, he was visiting a Finish friend in Ahmic Harbour, and was spotted around the harbour running like the wind, Kai was a Finish cross country runner and marathoner. Buck invited him up to Chikopi to put the boys through their paces and that was it, he was hooked.
Kai was an English professor in Finland, an avid photographer and a cancer survivor. Throughout his illness and treatments he continued his running and exercise regimen. When we visited him in Finland, April 2009, he convinced me to ride his bicycle alongside him as he ran through the snow, April in Finland has a snow depth of over 20 feet. After his “jog”, we went on a walk to the University lake, where he encouraged me to walk out onto the ice, other more adventurous members of the University were actually taking a dip in the still frozen lake between purging in the sauna.
On a trip to Tanzania earlier this year, Kai was infected by a parasitic fly, his weakened organs were unable to fight off the infection and it is with sincere condolences to his wife Marja, sons Panu and Sampo, their wife’s and his 5 grandchildren that we share in their sorrow and prayers.
If you wish to send condolences or a messages please send them to: Marja Mäkelä, Satukaari 12, 15550 Nastola, Finland or to Kai’s son, Panu by email: panumakela1@gmail.com 
