John V. Sundsten grew up with two loves: music and his Scandinavian heritage. And for over three-quarters of a century he parlayed them into a rich livelihood in the Seattle area.
Even after suffering a heart attack a few years ago, Mr. Sundsten diligently worked at extolling Scandinavian life and virtues through his music.
"He had three pianos," said his sister, Agnes Easterly, 84, of Seattle. "He went to the piano until he couldn't walk."
Mr. Sundsten, who died on Oct. 26 at the Seattle home of a friend, was born on Oct. 11, 1899, in Munsala, Finland. He was the first of four children born to William and Sofie Sundsten.
The family became musically inclined through Sofie, a singer-actress in Finland. While Mr. Sundsten was drawn to the piano, his brothers and sisters gravitated towards the cello, violin and clarinet.
In 1912, the Sundsten family moved from Finland to Tacoma, where Mr. Sundsten graduated from Lincoln High School. Instead of attending college, he moved to Seattle in 1917 to take piano lessons.
Throughout his life, Mr. Sundsten served as organist and director of music for several of the larger churches in Tacoma and Seattle. And between 1951 to 1971, he coordinated the annual Scandinavian Music Festival at Seattle's Volunteer Park.
Off-and-on, he performed at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Ballard.
"I knew him for over 12 years," said Marianne Forssblad, the museum's director. "He took great interest and great pride in his heritage.
"He played classical music and was well versed in the Scandinavian composers. He was one of the most outstanding personalities in the Scandinavian community."
In 1983, the museum named Mr. Sundsten one of Seattle's Scandinavians of the Year. The Seattle Times - Nov 3, 1992, By Tomas Guillen This provided by contributor Pat McArron (#47348594).
Even after suffering a heart attack a few years ago, Mr. Sundsten diligently worked at extolling Scandinavian life and virtues through his music.
"He had three pianos," said his sister, Agnes Easterly, 84, of Seattle. "He went to the piano until he couldn't walk."
Mr. Sundsten, who died on Oct. 26 at the Seattle home of a friend, was born on Oct. 11, 1899, in Munsala, Finland. He was the first of four children born to William and Sofie Sundsten.
The family became musically inclined through Sofie, a singer-actress in Finland. While Mr. Sundsten was drawn to the piano, his brothers and sisters gravitated towards the cello, violin and clarinet.
In 1912, the Sundsten family moved from Finland to Tacoma, where Mr. Sundsten graduated from Lincoln High School. Instead of attending college, he moved to Seattle in 1917 to take piano lessons.
Throughout his life, Mr. Sundsten served as organist and director of music for several of the larger churches in Tacoma and Seattle. And between 1951 to 1971, he coordinated the annual Scandinavian Music Festival at Seattle's Volunteer Park.
Off-and-on, he performed at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Ballard.
"I knew him for over 12 years," said Marianne Forssblad, the museum's director. "He took great interest and great pride in his heritage.
"He played classical music and was well versed in the Scandinavian composers. He was one of the most outstanding personalities in the Scandinavian community."
In 1983, the museum named Mr. Sundsten one of Seattle's Scandinavians of the Year. The Seattle Times - Nov 3, 1992, By Tomas Guillen This provided by contributor Pat McArron (#47348594).
John V. Sundsten grew up with two loves: music and his Scandinavian heritage. And for over three-quarters of a century he parlayed them into a rich livelihood in the Seattle area.
Even after suffering a heart attack a few years ago, Mr. Sundsten diligently worked at extolling Scandinavian life and virtues through his music.
"He had three pianos," said his sister, Agnes Easterly, 84, of Seattle. "He went to the piano until he couldn't walk."
Mr. Sundsten, who died on Oct. 26 at the Seattle home of a friend, was born on Oct. 11, 1899, in Munsala, Finland. He was the first of four children born to William and Sofie Sundsten.
The family became musically inclined through Sofie, a singer-actress in Finland. While Mr. Sundsten was drawn to the piano, his brothers and sisters gravitated towards the cello, violin and clarinet.
In 1912, the Sundsten family moved from Finland to Tacoma, where Mr. Sundsten graduated from Lincoln High School. Instead of attending college, he moved to Seattle in 1917 to take piano lessons.
Throughout his life, Mr. Sundsten served as organist and director of music for several of the larger churches in Tacoma and Seattle. And between 1951 to 1971, he coordinated the annual Scandinavian Music Festival at Seattle's Volunteer Park.
Off-and-on, he performed at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Ballard.
"I knew him for over 12 years," said Marianne Forssblad, the museum's director. "He took great interest and great pride in his heritage.
"He played classical music and was well versed in the Scandinavian composers. He was one of the most outstanding personalities in the Scandinavian community."
In 1983, the museum named Mr. Sundsten one of Seattle's Scandinavians of the Year. The Seattle Times - Nov 3, 1992, By Tomas Guillen This provided by contributor Pat McArron (#47348594).
Even after suffering a heart attack a few years ago, Mr. Sundsten diligently worked at extolling Scandinavian life and virtues through his music.
"He had three pianos," said his sister, Agnes Easterly, 84, of Seattle. "He went to the piano until he couldn't walk."
Mr. Sundsten, who died on Oct. 26 at the Seattle home of a friend, was born on Oct. 11, 1899, in Munsala, Finland. He was the first of four children born to William and Sofie Sundsten.
The family became musically inclined through Sofie, a singer-actress in Finland. While Mr. Sundsten was drawn to the piano, his brothers and sisters gravitated towards the cello, violin and clarinet.
In 1912, the Sundsten family moved from Finland to Tacoma, where Mr. Sundsten graduated from Lincoln High School. Instead of attending college, he moved to Seattle in 1917 to take piano lessons.
Throughout his life, Mr. Sundsten served as organist and director of music for several of the larger churches in Tacoma and Seattle. And between 1951 to 1971, he coordinated the annual Scandinavian Music Festival at Seattle's Volunteer Park.
Off-and-on, he performed at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Ballard.
"I knew him for over 12 years," said Marianne Forssblad, the museum's director. "He took great interest and great pride in his heritage.
"He played classical music and was well versed in the Scandinavian composers. He was one of the most outstanding personalities in the Scandinavian community."
In 1983, the museum named Mr. Sundsten one of Seattle's Scandinavians of the Year. The Seattle Times - Nov 3, 1992, By Tomas Guillen This provided by contributor Pat McArron (#47348594).
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