HANCOCK — How much difference can one person make? In the case of Finlandia, Robert (Bob) Ubbelohde served as a driving force behind shaping the university into what we know today.

Ubbelohde, who served from 1988 to 2007 when he retired, recently passed away. Sixteen of those years he served as president, overseeing the transition from a two-year institution to a four-year baccalaureate-granting one and the name change from Suomi College to Finlandia University.

Instigating and leading the charge, Ubbelohde took up a challenge other university presidents had not for a decade, explained Ken Seaton, who served with him as a trustee.

“They figured it would be too difficult a job, that the cost would be too great,” Seaton said. But Bob saw it as a matter of survival and so he said. ‘Either we do it or I don’t know how long we’ll last,’ so he just charged ahead and made it happen.”

Vice President for Academic Affairs Fredi de Yampert worked with Ubbelohde for 11 years throughout the transition process and also sees him as a vital player behind the changes.

“Maybe somebody would have come along to help us grow from a two-year institution to a four-year university, but I don’t know when that would of happened,” de Yampert said. “Part of me believes had he not been president when he was, we would not have made that transition.”

Current president Philip Johnson was hired by Ubbelohde to serve as the campus pastor and recalls him as a driven and passionate man who put emphasis on sustaining the universities Finnish ties and heritage as well as the arts.

“He just worked tirelessly…to secure this more durable future for the college,” Johnson said.

He also was behind the contemporary Finnish artist series and other artistic endeavors at the university as well as the purchase of what is now the Jutila Center.

Ubbelohde was also key in working to develop relationships with Finland and Finnish businesses making many trips to the country and forming a strong connection to it said trustee member Michael Lahti.

That connection continues today.

Following his retirement, Ubbelohde left the area and Finlandia to the students and staff there but maintained occasional contact with a few individuals.

Photo provided by Finlandia University
Former Finlandia President Robert Ubbelohde stands next to an office fireplace. Ubbelohde was instrumental in Finlandia’s conversion from a two-year college to a four-year university.

Photo provided by Finlandia University
Former Finlandia President Robert Ubbelohde signs documents. Ubbelohde was considered a difference-maker at Finlandia by friends and collegues.