In the last ten years, Jussi Raittinen faced both great personal sadness and health problems.
Musician Jussi Raittinen died at the age of 80. Pete Anikari
Rock musician Jussi Raittinen the last ten years of a long life were overshadowed by great sadness when the youngest of his sons passed away in 2013.
Jussi Raittinen himself died on Tuesday 13 February. At the age of 80. Raittinen is known for both his solo career and his work in the band The Boys.
A long union
Brothers Eero and Jussi Raittinen founded The Boys band in 1964. Over the years, more than 35 members have played in the band.
The band has been gigging hard ever since its founding. There was no break even when Raittinen joined the army or his children were born.
During his military service in 1966, Raittinen met Carita– to his wife. The couple managed to be married for 53 years. Carita trained as a surgical specialist nurse in the 1970s. Raittinen, who suffered from health challenges later in life, says that his wife has been a great help to him.
Carita’s wife recently commented on her husband’s death to Iltalehti:
– This final phase, more than two months, has been heavy, tiring and varied. The death was a surprise, yes and no. Yes, it came quite quickly, he says.
Death of the younger son
In the birthday interview he gave to Iltalehti in September 2023, the musician said that his thoughts about his personal life revolve around his wife Carita, his children Yucca and Pekkasummer days at a cottage in Lohja, school years from childhood and life inside the tram tracks in the center of Helsinki.
The younger of Raittinen’s sons, Juka, had a congenital heart defect.
Jukka Raittinen died at the end of 2013 after heart surgery. The heart surgery was already the third of its kind. The operation was successful, but Juka’s body could no longer withstand recovery, and he passed away. Jukka Raittinen was only 38 years old when he died.
– We always lived in the shadow of the tragic fact that the boy might not stay with us for long, Jussi Raittinen said in an interview with Iltalehti in 2014.
Janne Salmi wrote the memoir Old rock star – Jussi Raittinen and the story of The Boys band 1977–2014. The photo shows Raittinen signing the work in 2014. Jenni Gästgivar
Health problems
Raittinen had health problems himself.
In July 2020, he had a heart attack that required surgical treatment.
– I had quadruple bypass surgery. I had open heart surgery, so my sternum was opened. This was quite a radical surgery, Raittinen told Iltalehti at the time.
Raittinen’s legs also had to be operated on.
Raittinen had bypass surgery three years ago, and a pacemaker was placed on him. Raittinen told Iltalehti last September that his movement was difficult and he had to use assistive devices.
In the summer of 2023, Raittinen was found to have different degrees of skin cell changes.
Despite his health problems, Raittinen gigged hard even in his older age.