Born in Melrose, MA, Eric Aho studied at the Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design in London, England and then received his BA of Fine Arts in printmaking from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. Aho has exhibited throughout the United States and internationally. Recent solo exhibitions were held at New Britain Museum of American Art, CT, the Hood Museum of Art, NH, the Federal Reserve Board, Washington, DC, and the Currier Museum of Art, NH. His work is held in the permanent collections of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Denver Art Museum, the Hood Museum of Art, NH, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, among others. He lives with his family in Vermont.

Oivan Ilo joins us once again at FinnFunn 2025. Oivan Ilo (Oiva’s Joy) dance band began in 1995; it’s named for Christine’s father Oiva Anderson (1923-2001), an active member of two Finnish American communities. The group includes: John Chambers, a multi-instrumentalist and band’s accordionist, music arranger for vast quantities of traditional tunes from North America and Europe; John Rosenfelder, on bass and sound amplification; Cedwyn Morgan, on mandolin and banjo; and Christine Anderson on the fiddle The band plays listening and dance music across New England and beyond. Since 1992 when Christine and John played for the Revontulet Finnish Folk Dancers on its trip to the Kaustinen Folk Festival in Finland, they have been regularly accompanying the dancers. At times it’s been the entire Oivan Ilo band playing for the troupe. The group’s contact is Christine at cmafiddle@yahoo.com

Mark grew up in the Finnish community of Lanesville, a village in Gloucester, MA, with strong ties to his Finnish heritage. It was a childhood full of blueberry picking, nisu baking and Saturday family saunas. Sauna has been a mainstay in his life since. Inspired by the U.S. Traveling Sauna tour celebrating Finland’s 100th anniversary of independence, Babson built a wood-fired mobile sauna which he named Abundance Sauna, intending to take the sauna experience throughout the region, especially to the uninitiated, accentuating enjoyment over endurance. Says Mark, “The simplicity of sauna culture is a welcome oasis in our fast-paced world.”

Recently retired, Dan Bisaccio was the graduate Director of Science Education & Director of Teacher Education (MA in Teaching) at Brown University. Earlier, Dan was a NH science teacher and recipient of many national, state, regional teaching awards –including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching. He has authored several papers on educational pedagogy and practice and recently published a book (All Children Smile in the Same Language) reflecting on teaching. Dan’s on-going research with the Smithsonian Institution’s Biodiversity & Monitoring Program involves secondary, college students, and teachers with authentic field research opportunities at several tropical sites in Central and South America. His extensive fieldwork includes ecological studies in plant and animal communities. He has been leading programs at The Inn at East Hill Farm since the late 1980.

At FinnFunn 2021, Amber Boderrick presented a well-received guided listening of Sibelius’s Finlandia. FinnFunn 2025 is pleased to present the video recording of her presentation to attendees a second time. Amber is a music historian and educator, flutist, and arts administrator. She has presented her research throughout North America and Ireland. Amber holds a BA and MA, her research focusing on the long Romantic era with an emphasis in symphonic music. She is studying for a doctoral degree in Musicology at the University of North Texas, ironically the university at which Sibelius’s great-great-grandaughter, Ruusamari Teppo, recently received her doctorate. Today, Amber is an active music historian, presenting original music appreciation lectures throughout the community and online. Her classes are well-known for making classical music accessible and for teaching adults how to listen for the roadmaps in music. She lectures throughout Massachusetts and Illinois.

The granddaughter of four Finnish grandparents, who emigrated from Finland in the early twentieth century, prompted Jean’s interest in her heritage and participation over the years in central Massachusetts Nordic groups. She is a member of and past treasurer for the Finnish American Historical Society - Sovittaja, with membership in the Nordic Lodge #611 in Worcester, and the FinnFunn Weekend New England standing committee. Since returning in 2011 to her hometown of Holden, MA, Jean has developed interests in art, crafts, photography, and travel to Finland. She was invited to serve as Festival Artist for the 2024 Kesajula/ Summer Festival at Saima Park in Fitchburg, MA. Jean also placed first in FF21’s costume parade.

Mike has been working as an accountant for half his life, and recently passed the halfway mark to retirement. He has Finnish heritage, but has been more interested and involved in Finnish and Finnish American activities in the past ten years. His grandfather, Roy Helander, has been a substantial influence on embracing his Finnishness, taking him to FinnFunn weekends and eventually joining the FinnFunn Weekend standing committee in 2020. When he is not working, Mike enjoys spending time with his dog.

Susan is the granddaughter of Finnish grandparents: Emil Rautio from Konginkansas and Jenny (Huovinen) Rautio from Iisalmi. She is a retired high school English teacher. For twelve years she directed “Words Go Wild on Winnipesaukee,” a writing workshop for teachers. Cloutier enjoys tent camping, knitting mittens using four needles, hiking, and swimming in cold lakes. Her son, then 14, announced one day, “Don’t go telling people you grew up on a chicken farm. They don’t need to know that.” Comments like this launched her into nonfiction writing.

A self-described "Military Brat,” Patti is a resident of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, and is a retired librarian.  Finnish on her mother's side, Patti's great grandparents settled in South Dakota after emigrating from Western Finland to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan. During the Great Depression her grandfather moved the family to join other Finns in Astoria, Oregon. Patti discovered the Finnish American Heritage Society of Canterbury, CT, more than 20 years ago and has been an active member ever since. She has also been a public library book discussion leader for more than 25 years.

Jackie is responsible for the Table Raffle and Silent Action along with Stan Karro; she has developed an expertise in managing the multiple behind-the-scenes and day-of details required for a smooth-running event. She loves her Finnish heritage and Mid-Coast Maine, home to a Finnish community where she grew up and resides. Locally, Jackie has served since 2003 as president of the Finnish Heritage House in South Thomaston, ME. Nationally, in 2008, she joined the board of Finlandia Foundation National, taking roles as secretary and as a member of four committees. She cherishes the many tours of Finland with the Smiley group. With her pride in all things Finnish, it’s no wonder that Harjula has actively participated in and attended 29 FinnFunn Weekends.

Since childhood, Barry and Katy have been immersed in Finnish culture and heritage. For decades they danced with the Revontulet Finnish Folk Dancers. Both are members of the Finnish American Society - Sovittaja at which Barry served for many years as president. Anyone who desires information about the Finns and Finnish Americans in central Massachusetts should contact the Heiniluomas who provide the institutional memory for suomalaiset in that area.

A member of the FinnFunn Weekend standing committee, Roy has been a staple at Finnish-American community events, serving as host, emcee, historian, lecturer, and entertainer countless times. He is a talented actor, pianist and organist, and has been entertaining crowds in theater productions and behind the keyboard for nearly a century. In recognition of his contributions to Finnish-American communities, Roy received Finland’s Order of the White Rose in 1988.

Let’s all give our guest Minea Herwitz a big welcome to FinnFunn 2025. Ms Herwitz serves as the first Communications Director at Finlandia Foundation National.  Minea is a digital marketing expert, coach, and consultant with a professional background in media production, impact storytelling, and filmmaking. She combines her artistic sensibility and strategic insight to elevate brands, organizations, and individuals. Minea spent over ten years in community bank and nonprofit marketing, where she captured and highlighted stories of environmental and community impact that resonated deeply with local audiences.  Fluent in English and Finnish, Minea holds degrees in Psychology and Literature (Creative Writing) . She is committed to fostering meaningful connections through communication, creativity, and compassion. Born and currently residing in the San Francisco Bay Area, she considers both the U.S. and Finland home. Contact: communications@finlandiafoundation.org

Kristi (she/they) is a Finnish American artist, organizer, and cultural strategist of Karelian descent. Her work in Visual Arts focuses on nature, community, healing, resource-sharing, and advocacy for an equitable society. She aims to inspire wonder and deep connection to our world. Holohan has been shown in galleries, museums, and municipal collections throughout the US and internationally. She has recently relocated from California to the Northeast to build and run Pattagansett Art Center as a haven for contemporary and traditional artists to naturally recharge outside of the modern traditional world. She loves to visit her friends and family throughout the US and in Finland. You can find her website at https://www.kristiholohan.com/

A crafter and creative at heart, Judy began her fiber arts journey while raising Finn sheep and Angora goats. Not wanting their fleeces to be wasted, Judy taught herself how to spin and then to knit. Needle felting became her next adventure in her fiber arts journey which allowed her to channel her creativity into another dimension and medium. Judy has been teaching needle felting for over 20 years. When Judy's students needle felt, they explore colors, textures, and shapes, and develop confidence in bringing a vision to life.  Students also enjoy the connection to the environment and leave with a sense of gratitude for the earth as they work with natural materials. Judy is pleased to bring needle felting to this year’s theme of Finns and Nature. Judy lives with her husband Rich and enjoys bedecking her two grandchildren with knitwear and also creating felted gnomes for every season of the year.

Stan is responsible for the Raffle and Silent Action along with Jackie Harjula; he has developed an expertise in managing the multiple behind-the-scenes and day-of details required for a smooth-running event. Stan is a first-generation Finnish American, an active member since 2009 of the Finnish American Heritage Society in CT, and has served as chair and now co-chair of the FinnFunn standing committee.

Although the Finnish language can be difficult to learn, instructor Saija Laurla makes it fun and interesting. She was born in Helsinki and raised in Vantaa. Her family took her abroad two to three times a year. This gave the talkative Saija an opportunity to learn French, English, Spanish, Swedish and Italian. Upon hearing Estonian, Lithuanian, Turkish and Russian, she did her best to learn a few words. Because Saija’s husband was offered a job in the United States, she watched popular television shows to refresh her English as well as to expose her to American culture. Since childhood, she has always exchanged silly sentences in Finnish for English expressions in her teaching. By 2018, Saija had lived in the US for three years when she discovered a teaching position available at Saima Park, and felt comfortable to apply. The rest is history; now Saija enjoys teaching Finnish online as well as in person. When Saija is not immersed in the Finnish language and vocabulary, she moves to the kitchen where she prepares Finnish dishes using natural ingredients. On Sunday, Saija will demonstrate the preparation of Finnish dishes using mushrooms that Finns forage in the forests to this day.

Holly is a third-generation Finn and member of the FinnFunn standing committee. Her 35 years as marketing director and resident Finn at The Inn at East Hill Farm (EHF) have served as the link between EHF and FFW for 15 gratifying years. An inveterate outdoors woman, Holly’s adventurous spirit has taken her white water rafting, hang gliding, skydiving, and mountain climbing to name a few. With their son and only child away at college, Holly and her husband enter year two as empty nesters; their three dogs love the extra attention.

FinnFunn Weekend welcomes Charlotte Loukola, Finlandia Foundation National’s Performer of the Year. Charlotte is a Finnish-American with dual citizenship; her parents live in Jyväskylä, Finland. Charlotte earned her Master of Music degrees at The Juilliard School and Sibelius Academy. She did her undergrad work at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Charlotte has competed internationally both as a solo violinist and as a chamber musician, winning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in several competitions. Currently she works as the assistant concertmaster at the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular - Broadway production, and at the Palm Beach Symphony and Palm Beach Opera. Charlotte frequently performs in the world's top concert venues, including yearly appearances at Carnegie Hall with her quartet Ensemble Nerina. This past summer Ensemble Nerina spent a month-long tour in Europe, including appearances on radio Listen to Charlotte play

Charlotte has been a journalist for local organizations, environmental groups, and high technology companies. She taught descriptive, expository and news writing in Southern New Hampshire high schools and currently tutors ESL students in writing and communications at the Adult Education Center in Nashua, NH. Journal writing and short narratives about family and friends are a favorite form of writing for her these days. Charlotte is a galvanized Finn; she has an extensive Eastern Europe ancestry from Poland, Germany and Austria and can’t stay away from snow, saunas, and Nordic skiing.

Leila serves as director of the Revontulet Finnish Folk Dance group where she and husband Mark are also dance instructors. She is a proud, one-hundred percent American Finn. Her Saturday job as a child was to drag the water hose to the sauna to fill the sauna buckets. Saturday evening was full of family fun: running over snow-covered ground, making snow angels, devising silly contests with her sisters, and star-gazing from the hammock. Relatives near and far joined the family table, enjoying Finnish pulla and kahvi as music surrounded them. Leila has taught K-8 music and piano and is organist and choir director for Christ Lutheran Church, Troy, NH.

Katina Mackey’s world is steeped in Finnish culture. Her parents were founding members of the Finger Lakes Finns chapter of Finlandia Foundation National and active members of the Finnish American community in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. She grew up attending performances by Finnish folk music performers and listening to Finnish folk music records. Katrina danced with the Finger Lakes Finns folk dance group until high school graduation. She picked up the fiddle for the first time in 2006, intending to learn Finnish folk tunes following in the footsteps of her maternal grandfather who played in a dance band in Finland. She feels extremely fortunate to have attended the first annual Finnish Folk Music Camp in Hancock, Michigan, in 2011, again in 2012, and later to have apprenticed with button-accordion master Richard Koski through New York State Heritage Preservation Grants. Mackey looks forward not only to entertain with Metku, but also to teach attendees the Finnish card game Ristiseiska.

Michael Ludgate (mandolin, kantele, fiddle) and Katrina Mackey (fiddle, flute) have both been inspired by their Finnish ancestral heritage to learn more about traditional music and dance of Finland. The result is the band Metku. Katrina and Mike play as a duo but often are fortunate to have the super talented Philip Robinson (guitar) join for a trio and on special local occasions, Richard Koski joins for a quartet. In addition to the traditional Finnish repertoire, the group plays traditional music for contra dances, square dances, private parties and weddings. Metku has recently published a tune book of music titled “Finnish Dance Music of the Finger Lakes.” Music we will play this weekend includes a variety of traditional Finnish American dance tunes, some demonstrated by Bernie and Nancy, Barry and Katy: waltzes, polkas, schottisches, mazurkas, hambos, tangos. Web www.metku.org  or www.metkumusic.org , Facebook https://www.facebook.com/metkumusic

Bernie Nowak has been involved in music and dancing at Sovittaja Park in Rutland, MA, for more than 25 years. In 2004; he formed the Central Mass. Accordion Club which has performed at FinnFunn Weekends in Worcester and Leominster, MA, Windsor, CT, and Troy, NH. He, along with his wife, Nancy, has taught ballroom and Scandinavian dancing at Sovittaja Park and at other venues. He fell in love with Scandinavian music and dancing and continues to spread the enjoyment of this tradition.

Nancy J. (Kallio) Nowak and her husband Bernie are grateful to the people who taught them Finnish and Scandinavian dancing in Rutland, MA, at the Finnish Heritage Society, Sovittaja. Drawn to the beauty of the music and the dances, they eventually took on the role of dance teachers there, sharing the enjoyment that had been so graciously shared with them. Nancy is a former musician (piano and euphonium) and also writes poetry and essays.

Dr. Nani Pajunen is a Leading Specialist in sustainability and circular economy at the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and Turku University of Applied Sciences. She has over 25 years of experience in industry, academia, and consultancy. In her work, she focuses on systemic change from a linear economy towards a sustainable and fair global economy, by developing solutions in which global market economy is based on the sustainable use of natural resources and low-carbon circular economy business. Her expertise is to help different sectors of society, public and private organizations to succeed in an uncertain market situation when a sustainability crisis and lack of energy and raw materials are a reality. Nani holds a doctorate in material science, a licentiate environmental law, and a master’s in civil engineering, with additional qualifications as a vocational teacher. Please read more from https://fi.linkedin.com/in/nanipajunen

Hanna is the author of the novels We Sinners, which received the Whiting Award, and The End of Drum-Time, a finalist for the 2023 National Book Award in fiction. Her work has appeared in Harper’s, The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, the Chicago Tribune, and The Wall Street Journal; she is the recipient of residencies at MacDowell, Yaddo, and the Lásságámmi Foundation, as well as numerous fellowships, including those from the American-Scandinavian Foundation, Princeton University, and the New York Public Library. Currently, she teaches at the Warren Wilson College MFA Program for Writers. Born in the Detroit area as a fourth-generation Finn (on both sides), she has maintained her connection to Finland via her family, her family’s religion (Laestadianism), and her writing, as The End of Drum-Time takes place in northernmost Finland (Sápmi) and required years of research. She can speak a little Finnish and bakes a very decent korvapuusti. www.hannapylvainen.com

Rob serves as co-chair, along with Stan Karro, of the FinnFunn Weekend (FFW) standing committee and is director of the Cape Ann Finns (CAF). His Finnish forebears emigrated between 1897-1910 to the U.S.A. to Rockport, MA, to work in the granite quarries. He lives in Rockport on Finn Alley/Forest St. in the1820 building that served as a one-room schoolhouse, temperance hall, dry goods store, Ranta’s Market, repair shop, and now their small home moved by oxen from “Lanesville way” in 1870. Dr. Ranta worked in New Jersey public education for 37 years. Ranta was an author and advisor for Macmillan Publishing Company and also an adjunct instructor of humanities. Family, reading, genealogy, travel, theater, music, CAF and FFW keep him busy.

Revontulet (the Northern Lights) is a Finnish folk-dance group with 50+ years of performing locally, regionally, nationally and abroad with the expressed goal of preserving and promoting for Finnish Americans the 18th and 19th century dance traditions in Finland. Their repertoire plus the music and national costumes originated in the daily lives of the peasantry and gentry.

Carolyn has always enjoyed her Finnish heritage; her grandfather was from Saarijärvi; her Mummu, from Kurikka. Carolyn’s mother grew up in the Finnish American community in Worcester, Massachusetts. Says Stanford, “I began attending FinnFunn with my mom in 2006. I really enjoy playing traditional Finnish music on my fiddle and am honored to be playing along with Bernie Nowak this weekend. She also recently joined Revontulet dancers and looks forward to celebrating Finnish heritage through both music and dance this weekend!

Martha is a second/third generation Finnish American.  Her father's parents settled in Troy, NH, in 1917.  She has served on the FinnFunn Weekend standing committee for many years, co-chaired earlier Weekends, and has managed the tori/Finnish Marketplace ably for some time now. Says Silander, “I hope you enjoy the scenic Troy area, and look forward to meeting you at the tori.”

Anita’s dedication to the preservation of Finnish culture is evidenced by her involvement

and leadership locally, nationally, and internationally. Anita was born in Canterbury, CT, with Finnish spoken as the home language. Passion for her Finnish heritage was intertwined with her career as a business educator and continues in her retirement. Serving as president of the Finnish American Heritage Society in Canterbury and as national president of Finlandia Foundation National followed many years of service on the Board of both organizations. Anita, with her husband Jack, founded FinnFunn Weekends in 1992, providing a network for Finnish-American organizations in the Northeast. Planning and conducting Finland group tours since 1986 has been a passion for Anita, taking her 29th unique tour this past summer. Anita, a dual citizen, has been honored by Suomi Seura/Finland Society with the Silver Badge of Merit, and in 2016 she was honored by the President of the Republic of Finland with the Cross of Merit of the Order of the White Rose of Finland “for her years of promoting cultural ties between Finland and the United States.”

Stephen Trimble, a FFW standing committee member, is a native and third generation Cape Codder. His mother Miriam was a Palomaki. His grandparents, Nestori ja Amelia Raikkonen, emigrated to the U.S. around 1900. They met and married in 1913, settling in Hyannis, MA. Nestori dropped the “i” in his given name, then anglicized and shortened his surname to Hill. Among many accomplishments, they founded and operated Hill’s Dining Room and Inn in Hyannis. Stephen has been president of the Finnish-American Society of Cape Cod for many years. The Society meets at First Baptist Church in Hyannis on the third Saturday of the month at noon. Trimble has recently sent an invitation to Finnish president Alexander Stubb to attend a Society meeting. Stephen is an ordained pastor in the American Baptist Churches USA and is a realtor on Cape Cod and southeastern Mass. He collects books, enjoys classical music, and visits with others.