Sylvi Kekkonen

Sylvi Kekkonen
Sylvi Kekkonen in 1961
Born	Sylvia Salome Uino (1900-03-12)12 March 1900 Pieksämäki, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire
Died	2 December 1974(1974-12-02) (aged 74) Helsinki, Finland
Occupation	Writer
Known for	First Lady of Finland (1956 — her death)
Spouse	Urho Kekkonen ​ (m. 1926)​
Children	2 (twins): Matti, Taneli

Sylvi Kekkonen (née Uino; 12 March 1900 — 2 December 1974) was a Finnish writer and the longest-serving First Lady of Finland.[1]

Personal life and family

Sylvi Uino was born to a middle-class family, as the fourth child of a chaplain (later vicar), Kauno Uino, and Emilia Salome née Stenberg.[2][3]

After her father's death, the family moved to Mikkeli, where she went to school. She later moved to Helsinki with the intention of studying law, but dropped out and took a job instead.[3]

In 1926, she married Urho Kekkonen; they had met while working at a central law enforcement agency Etsivä keskuspoliisi (now the Finnish Security Intelligence Service).[3] Two years later, the couple had twin sons, Matti and Taneli.[2]

She was a small and fragile person physically, but known for her strength of character.[4][5]

She died at Meilahti Tower Hospital on 2 December 1974.

First Lady of Finland

President and First Lady Kekkonen (1956)

Sylvi Kekkonen considered her main duty as the First Lady to support her husband, the President.[1][5]

She was also active as a patron of various events and other initiatives,[1] although in later life her health deteriorated and she was forced to cut down on her public appearances.[5]

She is the longest-serving First Lady, with 18 years in the role, and is likely to remain so as the tenure of Presidents of Finland is now limited to a maximum of two consecutive six-year-terms.[6]

Writing career

Kekkonen's main literary output comprises two novels, Käytävä (1955) and Amalia (1958); and two short story collections, Kotikaivolla (1952) and the autobiographical Lankkuaidan suojassa (1968) which is considered to be her best in literary terms.[5][3] Of these, Amalia was translated into eight languages.[7]

Her writing often deals with impressionist themes and juvenile perspectives.[1]

She also wrote essays; her debut publication, Kiteitä (1949), was an essay collection.[3]

She is also known to have edited and critiqued many of her husband's writings.[7][5]

To commemorate her, an annual literary symposium, Sylvi Symposiumi, has been held since 2000 in Pieksämäki,[3] where there is also a park named after her.[8]

References

1. "Kekkonen, Sylvi (1900-1974)". Kansallisbiografia.fi (in Finnish). National Biography of Finland. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
2. Kuka Kukin On (Who's Who) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Otava. 1978. p. 374. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
3. "Kekkonen, Sylvi". Kirjasampo.fi (in Finnish). Public Libraries of Finland. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
4. "Pienikokoinen ja hauras Sylvi Kekkonen oli henkisesti vahva ihminen: "Hän aloitti kirjailijana vasta 49-vuotiaana ja ajoi ajokortin 61-vuotiaana"". Maaseudun Tulevaisuus (in Finnish). 22 December 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
5. "KEKKONEN, Sylvi". BLF.fi (in Swedish). Biografiskt lexikon för Finland. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
6. "Election of the President". Presidentti.fi. President of the Republic of Finland. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
7. "Kekkonen, Sylvi". Uppslagsverket.fi (in Swedish). Retrieved 1 August 2021.
8. "Sylvi Kekkosen puisto toteutuu Pieksämäellä". Savon Sanomat (in Finnish). 21 December 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2021.