JURIS PETERIS SVENNE

Condolences & Memories (13 entries)

• It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of my teacher and friend Dr. Juris Svenne. Juris was an outstanding human being. The closest anyone can get to a polymath in an era of super specialization. He was equally comfortable teaching physics, music or linguistics. I had the good fortune of having him as a teacher when I arrived as a graduate student in Winnipeg in the autumn of 1977. I took his graduate quantum mechanics course. He taught it using the innovative Keller method. This involved him giving one lecture per week, making himself available for a tutorial session and the students would work at their own pace. It consisted of 10 units with closed book, open book and take-home exams followed by a paper. Starting late in the term, he thought I might find it a challenge to catch up. Once when he was deriving a formula, I named it. He responded, ”You do not need this course”. Sure enough, I completed the course requirements in January instead of April. This sealed our friendship. We spent many a lunchtime swimming in the university indoors swimming pool in adjacent lanes. He was a much better swimmer than I was. After that we would go to the sauna, shower and go back to work. One evening, I went to see the opera Aida. I asked him the following day if he was there, not knowing of his operatic talent then. He responded, no, I was on the stage. Imagine Juris playing an Ethiopian soldier! When my sister visited from Iraq, I invited a group from the department for ethnic food. Juris and Aija came. The following day, he said, “I will add that you are a good cook to your reference letter.” I protested that I was only an assistant. Juris was on my examination committee. In the candidacy exam he asked fundamental questions and gently led me to the answers. Following my thesis defense, my adviser gave me copies of the examiners reports. Juris’s was, ”This thesis is a well-written English document. It contains very few typographical errors which I will communicate to the student myself.” One time, a faculty member was invited to write a review article. He passed it on to Juris to review and evaluate whether it was at a level of a “good" graduate student”. I did not know that at the time. Juris passed it on to me to read and tell him what I understood of the subject matter. I did. He responded approvingly. The paper was published as is. Juris and Aija invited me to their home, along with other members of the department for an evening of fellowship and good food. They were gracious and generous hosts. I returned to Winnipeg to visit in 2020. I asked a mutual friend if I could see Juris, only to be told of his condition at the time. While we mourn his passing, we celebrate an exemplary life lived with integrity, dedication and good humor. We are better people for having had the good fortune of crossing paths with him. The angels in Heaven will surely welcome him as a member of their choir! - Posted by: Muthana (Matthew) Al-Ghazi (Former UM graduate student (1977-1983)) on: Oct 16, 2024

• My interview at the University of Manitoba in January 2003, at a balmy -25 C, kicked off with a dinner with Juris and Bob Barber. Job interviews are always stressful, and their kindness and collegiality (before I actually became a colleague) took the edge off this process, and in general set the tone for my experience here in Winnipeg and the department. A big thank you to both of you! At that occasion, Juris also introduced me to Stuart McLean's Vinyl Cafe, which became a family favourite. For years after, Juris was my office neighbour, and we had many pleasant conversations. The boot-up chime of his Mac through the not-so-thick walls is still with me. Now we don't turn those things off anymore, everything is 24/7 :-) Rest in peace, Juris! - Posted by: Gerald Gwinner (colleague) on: Jul 01, 2024

• So sorry to hear of your dad's passing. Big hugs to you all. - Posted by: Joanne Reid (old friend of son ) on: Jun 15, 2024

• Tom and Juris shared interest in scattering theory and the few body problem. This joint interest made the Physics Department a welcome home when Tom first joined the Department. In addition to his deeply significant contributions to the physics community, Juris was responsible for significant vitality in the chamber music community. As a board member of the Aurora Musicale chamber music series in its initial years, Juris contributed extremely valuable wisdom and organizational guidance. Beyond that Juris and his wife, Aija, hosted unbelievable after-concert receptions AND also hosted those all-important mailing parties for concert announcements (folding, stuffing, labeling, stamping – and drinking wine)! Wonderful memories! And we shouldn’t forget that Juris sang in the Manitoba Opera Chorus for decades! We can all be enormously grateful for his many, many enriching contributions. Thank you, Juris! - Posted by: Thomas Osborn and Patricia Spencer (Friends and colleague) on: Jun 15, 2024

• Aija's wedding to Juris as a recent PhD recipient at the time is among the sweetest memories of my youth. Their togetherness was the stuff of heart stirring romance and adventure for someone fresh out of high school. Attending their marvelous wedding ceremony in Montreal with another of Aija’s close high school friends was a hallmark of our emerging adulthood. And being chauffeured round trip from Ottawa by Aija's brother was an adventure in and of itself. While our paths rarely crossed over the years I relied on that same mutual friend for updates on Aija and Juri's life and times. Their togetherness for me seemed a testament of how to live and love and cherish. I offer tender condolences to dear Aija and her family. - Posted by: sharron hanna (nee hunter) (high school friend of Aija's) on: Jun 04, 2024

• Juris was a fantastic physicist, he equally loved Physics and Italy, he spent long periods in Padova working together with my father Walter and other enthusiastic Nuclear Physicists of Padova University. They had many decades of continuous production of common papers, the last was published in 2017 (Phys.Rev.C 95 (2017) 3,034305. The longest period spent in Padova was in 1983 when he took an entire sabbatical in our University, and we could enjoy the intense friendship with his family, Aija, Mara, Helena and Alexander; we were all young together, school and sport, and of course the Choir. The year before I was myself in Winnipeg as summer student at my very beginning, so I could appreciate Juris as a beloved and respected professor, and as a friend, helping me in the practical trable of a young man at his first travel overseas. Many times we met in the following years during his and our travels, in a long friendship. Together with my sister Claudia and our families we would like to express our deepest condolences to Aija, Mara, Helena and Alexander. - Posted by: Andrea e Claudia Pisent (Friends) on: Jun 03, 2024

• I had the honor of knowing Juris first as a teacher, and later as a colleague and friend. His ability to explain complex scientific concepts in clear and accessible language was a gift that benefited many students. His kind and collaborative spirit was admirable and set a standard for all of us in the academic community. Juris's presence will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on through the many lives he touched and the memories we all hold dear. My deepest condolences to you, Aija, Alex, Helena, Mara, and your families during this difficult time. Loretta, Marco, and Matteo join me in expressing our heartfelt sorrow for your loss. Mancherà tantissimo. With deepest sympathy, Luciano - Posted by: Luciano Canton (friend and colleague) on: Jun 03, 2024

• It was sad news to hear that my brother had died. He was the youngest of us three siblings and I used to call him my baby brother. We were great playmates in our early childhood but later as we grew older he would spend hours and hours in his room reading books. No wonder he became the great scholar that he was. Unfortunately since I live on the East Coast and he in Winnipeg we did not see each other much in recent years. The last times we saw each other was at two family funerals, but we communicated by telephone until that became impossible as the Alzheimers disease took over. Since my husband died a year ago I can understand Aija’s grief and my sympathies are with her and Juris's whole family. - Posted by: Valda Kemp (Sister) on: Jun 02, 2024

• What beautiful words describing a beautiful life lived with much purpose and much love. We are so sad to hear of your wonderful dad’s passing Mara. Sending much love and strength to you, Pat, PJ and Julia. May the joyous memories of the time you spent together bring you comfort. with our deepest sympathy, Jacquie, Michael, Meghan and Zoe - Posted by: Jacquie Thomas (Friend) on: Jun 01, 2024

• Henni, your dad sounds like the loveliest person. Condolences to you and your family. My thoughts are with you all. Xo - Posted by: Mina Baskerville (Family friend ) on: Jun 01, 2024

• Having a parent with Alzheimers is like losing them twice - once to the disease and then again when they pass on. Your father had such an interesting life: academic, musical, and familial. Reading this Winnipeg Free Press summary of his life makes me wish I had the opportunity to know him in person. Fortunately, his attitude to life, family and music lives on in his children. Our prayers are with you Mara, as you and your family mourn the loss of your dad. - Posted by: Teresa Kelly (Friend of Mara and Pat) on: Jun 01, 2024

• On behalf of Twice Upon a Time, I would like to offer our deepest sympathies to Helena, Mara and their families for their loss. - Posted by: Tammi & Twice Upon a Time (Friend and Colleague) on: Jun 01, 2024

• On behalf of my family, I send our sincere condolences to Mara, Pat, PJ, Julia and the Svenne family. Alzheimer is a tough journey, but through the pain, your father was blessed with the love and support of his wonderful family -- truly a reflection of him. So nice to read about his many accomplishments and full, happy life with his family! Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. May your father rest in peace. Roberta, Michael, Thomas and Matthew. - Posted by: Roberta Spatari (Friend of Mara and Pat) on: Jun 01, 2024