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Ole Holsti Obituary

Olavi (Ole) Rudolf Holsti

August 7th, 1933-July 2nd, 2020

Chapel Hill

Olavi (Ole) Rudolf Holsti born August 7th, 1933 in Geneva, Switzerland died July 2nd, 2020 in his home in Salt Lake City, Utah after a long battle with lymphoma. Ole was born to Rudolf and Liisa Holsti. Rudolf Holsti served in Finland's foreign ministry and as the ambassador to the League of Nations until he and his family immigrated to the United States in 1941. Invited by former President Herbert Hoover, his father taught in the Department of Political Science at Stanford University until his death in 1945. When Ole's mother was hospitalized in 1943 with tuberculosis he was graciously raised by the Keesing family until he graduated from Palo Alto High School.

Ole received a BA degree from Stanford University in 1954, a MAT from Wesleyan University in 1956, and a PhD in Political Science from Stanford University in 1962. Ole taught at Stanford from 1962-67 before joining his brother, Dr. Kal Holsti, in the Department of Political Science at the University of British Columbia. In 1974, he accepted a position at Duke University as the George V. Allen Professor. He was the departmental chairman from 1978-83, and was named Emeritus Professor in 2010. He was known for his writings on international affairs, American foreign policy, content analysis, decision making in politics and diplomacy, and crises. He immensely enjoyed teaching and was proud to receive two undergraduate teaching awards, a lifetime achievement award from the American Political Science Association, and a teacher-scholar award from the International Studies Association. Ole was also remembered for his many opinionated letters to the editor.

Ole married Annolee Wood in 1953 after they met working at Yosemite National Park. He and Ann had two children, Eric Lynn Holsti, who died prematurely of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and his daughter, Dr. Maija Holsti. His wife, Ann died in 2006. Shortly after retiring from Duke in 2010, Ole moved to Salt Lake City to live near Maija, his son-in-law, Brad Anderson, and his two grandchildren, Aksel and Mikko.

Ole was passionate about running and race walking. He attended many running races, wrote for Running Journal, and completed 43 marathons, including 9 Boston Marathons. Despite slowing down due to his lymphoma, Ole continued to walk daily around the neighborhoods of Chapel Hill and Salt Lake City. He was recognized by his Boston Marathon jacket, Duke hat, and friendly smile. Even when faced with health difficulties, he never complained and showed much gratitude for his life. He lived simply, focused on the present, and had hope for the future into his final days. Ole much appreciated his excellent medical care and his family. Ole's favorite Finnish word was "sisu" which describes him well. The meaning of "sisu" is "extraordinary determination in the face of extreme adversity, and courage that is presented typically in situations where success is unlikely." Due to CoVid, his life will be celebrated on Zoom. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Hematologic Cancers at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Ole's memory. (https://give.huntsmancancer.org/page/17369/donate/1)

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The News and Observer & Herald Sun on Jul. 8, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Ole Holsti

Sponsored by Larkin Sunset Lawn - Salt Lake City.

15 Entries

June Casey

June 30, 2024

Not forgotten.
June Christensen Casey

June Christensen Casey

July 1, 2023

Blessings to Ole's family. He was a very nice gentleman. Lots of good memories.
June Christensen Casey

Gregg K.

February 9, 2023

I was saddened to read about the passing of Professor Holsti. Professor served not only as my Political Science professor (1987-1991) but also as my advisor, sponsor for my thesis, mentor and friend. I called Professor my Renaissance man as he knew something about everything. Post graduation, Professor reached out to my parents about an opportunity to continue my graduate studies at Duke Law. Rest in power Professor Holsti and I am 1000% positive you are running some marathons in Heaven. GK '91

June Christensen Casey

August 19, 2022

I hope Ole's family is doing well.
Ole was an unique guy to remember.
Blessings to all.

Patrick M O'Neill

August 18, 2022

As a runner and anti-war pacifist I had a friend in Ole. We only had a email, phone call friendship for the most part, but he always encouraged me with his kind words and loving heart. Ole gave praise to both my work and my writing. Now, Ole is my "Saint Intercessor" in Heaven.
Ole Holsti -- Pray for Us.
Peace, Patrick O'Neill [email protected]

June (Christensen) Casey

June 30, 2022

Almost 2 years have gone by since Ole left this earth. How sad. I read all the tributes written after my original writing. I am amazed. He really was a wonder with all of his knowledge. Such a fulfilling life he had. I was just talking to one of our Paly classmates, a Norwegian...and some Finnish, the other day and mentioned Ole. He was so proud of being Finnish. As I am of being Danish. Bless him and blessings to all of you.

Bosko Jovanovic

July 29, 2020

Dear Maija,

My name is Bosko Jovanovic, and am living in Serbia. Because of my cerebral palsy. I am using Internet to start communication with people from whom I could learn a lot.

I had correspondence with Ole science, 2005. Reason because I started to communicate with USA professors is to decide what I will do after getting my B.A diploma. I contacted him because of course I already knew for the Duke University because of the Blue Devils. That is the most important reason I decided to visit the Department of political science at Duke University. When I red your father CV. I decided to write him an email. On such way started our communication which we had until a few months ago.

Ole Holsti was my role model because he never was bias or had any kind of stereotypes in his mind. He was open-minded person and deep intellectual. I am very proud that he gifted me one of his books and that he wrote a short message inside the book for me. I am very proud that I received letters from him at the end of the year where he was writing about himself and all of you. He really was great mind and I can tell you that such kind of person is as Ole was, actually can not die and because of his books he will be remembered forever.

I am delighted with fact that he established reward for librarians. It is clear evidence of his joy of reading because such award can be established by the person who understand the importance of books, libraries and librarians.

He will be remembered as pioneer in political psychology, which is crucial discipline for understanding decision-making process and international relations. His recommendations helped me to establish correspondence with many other professors.

One of the reasons why I wanted to came to USA is to meet your father who was unique person and one of my dreams was to meet him person and to ask him many questions.

I am delighted that he gave me an interview, which was the first interior which I had my job and because of that interview editorial board was simply astonished.

With deep admiration,
Bosko Jovanovic

Linda Ram

July 10, 2020

Maija, your father was a legend and a hero, not just because of his incredible intellect, but because of his loving, warm spirit. I remain eternally grateful to him for advising me in college: he helped me in too many ways to count. Having lost my father in Vietnam shortly before meeting him, I spoke to him about both my father and his in a way that I couldn't with anyone else when I was young. I am so glad my daughter got to meet him when she went to Duke 10 years ago. You and your family are in my prayers (as you have been for years.) God bless him and you.

Simone Taylor

July 9, 2020

My sincerest condolences to your family for the loss of your loved one, Please except my deepest sympathies.

Hein Goemans

July 9, 2020

My name is Hein Goemans, I was a colleague of Ole at Duke, 1996-2004. Ole was a wonderful scholar of immense influence and importance. He is one of only a handful of IR scholars who made seminal contributions to the field in 5 (!) separate decades, beginning with his work on decision making and ending with his work with Peter Feaver on elite and mass opinion. He also was a mensch, a lovely human being who provided support and warmth when many others were uncertain how to talk to me after I was denied tenure. He was a truly lovely man, with a warm heart and smile. I have nothing but warm memories of him.

Janice Reilly

July 8, 2020

I'm so sad to hear the news of Ole's passing. He always had a smile and a kind word. I have fond memories of him with his camera taking photos of runners at road races in NC for the running journal.

Alpo Rusi

July 8, 2020

I would like express my condolences to the family of Ole Holsti. He is one of the best of our times as scholar of international relations. As a son of Rudolf Holsti, diplomat, scholar and foreign minister of Finland 1919-22 and 1936-38, Ole and his brother Kalevi experienced hard times after immigration to the United States in 1938. We will remember the legacy of dr. Ole Holsti in Finland.

June Casey

July 7, 2020

I am shocked to learn of Ole's passing. He was a Palo Alto High School, Class of 1950, classmate. We have kept in touch over the years...mostly the last 20 years. We are both Scandinavians and proud of it. Also Cat lovers. He loved his kitty cats. I think his love for his family was very deep and so special. He was so proud of all of them. I try to send emails to my classmates all the time. Ole was one of the few that always responded with a "thank you and best wishes". He accomplished so much in his lifetime. It is amazing to me. My deepest sympathy to his daughter, son in law and grandsons. May he rest in peace.

Leigh Smith

July 7, 2020

Sorry To have only met him once and just briefly. His life sounds extraordinary, unique and full of grace. I know you are sad to see him go but perhaps satisfied that he is out of any pain. He could only habe passed content to habe spent hus last years close to family.

Peter B Pitsker

July 6, 2020

Ole was a best friend at Palo Alto High School and at Stanford, where he was also a fraternity brother. We worked together in the kitchen and waiting tables to earn room and board. His brother Kal followed a couple of years behind us and also joined our fraternity.
We send our love and best wishes to Maija and family. We share your loss and pray for healing.
I value all the great memories of our time together for so many years.

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