Paul Juntunen (Jayson)Born:
February 13, 1921
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Died:
October 16, 2004
Pensacola, FL
Career
(High School)
1939-40 Wayne State University (College)
1940-41 Wayne State University (College)
1940-41 Winston (Detroit Basketball Association)
1941-42 Wayne State University (College)
1945-46 Detroit Mansfields (Detroit Basketball Association)
1946-47 Detroit Gems (NBL)
1946-47 Detroit (Independent)
1948-49 Detroit Vagabond Kings (NBL)
Update 5/17/2016
Part of the mystery of our guy, as indicated by records at ancestry.com, was because he later went by the name Paul Jayson. Once I found that, it was an easier route.
Born to Henry and Rauha Juntunen, Paul went to Wayne State University, and then entered the U.S. Navy. He later worked for WKMH in Detroit as a news editor. He served his country not only in World War 2, but in the Korean and Vietnam wars. At some point he changed his name to "Jayson," which is the name he and his wife are buried under.
He married Mary Elizabeth Forsbach (1924-2007) on August 22, 1943.
Source:
Mary's Obituary
Ancestry (Mem. req.)
Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/j/juntupa01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=juntupa01
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ReplyDeleteThat's my uncle Paul, my mother's brother!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure when he formally changed his last name to Jayson, but was told that as early as when he first played high school basketball, people began calling him the "Jay's son" - the J in Juntunen is pronounced as a Y and people found it hard to say.
Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteKristine: Since Paul is your uncle, I believe I once knew your grandmother's sister, Toini Tiilikainen, during the few months I lived in Hämeenlinna, Finland, many years ago. I have fond memories of her.
DeleteI have a letter from her dated 1971 in which she told me how excited she was to be visiting her sister in the US (or possibly Canada, I can't remember which), whom she hadn't seen in over 40 years. She didn't mention her sister's name, but from my research I think that sister is Rauha Tiilikainen Juntenen, which I believe would be your grandmother. Is that correct? Can you confirm for me that Toini and Rauha were sisters?
My reason for asking is mostly just curiosity and a general interest in family history. Toini was very kind to us. I have pictures of her, and perhaps a story or two, if you are interested.
We must be first cousins once removed Kristine! My grandfather was a great man.
DeleteWho was your grandfather?
DeleteI must confess I've never heard the name "Catfish Hinson" before. :-)