Photo: Mauno Hämäläinen — Public domainSource
Olavi Saarinen
politician
- October 18, 1923
- November 30, 1979
- 56 years
About Olavi Saarinen
Olavi Saarinen, 56, Finnish politician.
Explore other notable deaths in 1979 or deaths in November 1979.
The Deaths Archive presents
How well do you know Olavi Saarinen?
Explore their life. Test your knowledge. Beat the challenge.
10 questions · One legacy · How much do you really know?
Challenge your friends
Play together in real-time.
Advertisement
Full Biography
|Olavi Saarinen (18 October 1923, in Dragsfjärd – 30 November 1979) was a Finnish trade union activist and politician. He was at first a member of the Social Democratic Party of Finland and, after 1959, of the Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholders. He served as a Minister of Social affairs and Health from 13 April 1962, to 17 October 1963, and as a Member of Parliament from 5 April 1966, to 22 March 1970.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Interactive
Test Your Knowledge – Trivia Challenge
How well do you know this person's life and legacy?
No account needed to play. Sign in to keep your score on the leaderboard.
Books & Media
Find books, audiobooks and films about Olavi Saarinen on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olavi_Saarinen
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 21, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Olavi Saarinen's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Olavi Saarinen born?
- A.30 November 1923
- B.18 October 1923correct
- C.5 April 1923
- D.13 April 1923
Olavi Saarinen was born on 18 October 1923.
Source: biography opening
2.What was the profession of Olavi Saarinen?
- A.Journalist and diplomat
- B.Engineer and author
- C.Teacher and farmer
- D.Trade union activist and politiciancorrect
Olavi Saarinen was a Finnish trade union activist and politician.
Source: biography opening
3.In what year did Olavi Saarinen become a member of the Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholders?
- A.1959correct
- B.1962
- C.1966
- D.1970
Olavi Saarinen became a member of the Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholders after 1959.
Source: political career
4.When did Olavi Saarinen die?
- A.17 October 1963
- B.22 March 1970
- C.5 April 1966
- D.30 November 1979correct
Olavi Saarinen passed away on 30 November 1979.
Source: biography opening
5.Which political party was Olavi Saarinen a member of before 1959?
- A.Finnish People's Democratic League
- B.National Coalition Party
- C.Social Democratic Party of Finlandcorrect
- D.Centre Party
Olavi Saarinen was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Finland before joining the Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholders in 1959.
Source: political career
6.When did Olavi Saarinen's term as Minister of Social Affairs and Health conclude?
- A.5 April 1966
- B.17 October 1963correct
- C.22 March 1970
- D.13 April 1962
Olavi Saarinen served as Minister of Social Affairs and Health until 17 October 1963.
Source: ministerial service
7.On what date did Olavi Saarinen begin his term as a Member of Parliament?
- A.30 November 1979
- B.13 April 1962
- C.5 April 1966correct
- D.18 October 1923
Olavi Saarinen started his tenure as a Member of Parliament on 5 April 1966.
Source: parliamentary service
8.What was the final date of Olavi Saarinen's term as a Member of Parliament?
- A.17 October 1963
- B.30 November 1979
- C.13 April 1962
- D.22 March 1970correct
Olavi Saarinen served as a Member of Parliament until 22 March 1970.
Source: parliamentary service
9.When did Olavi Saarinen begin serving as a Minister of Social Affairs and Health?
- A.22 March 1970
- B.17 October 1963
- C.13 April 1962correct
- D.5 April 1966
Olavi Saarinen commenced his ministerial role on 13 April 1962.
Source: ministerial service
10.How long was the duration of Olavi Saarinen's time in the Parliament?
- A.From 1962 to 1963
- B.From 1959 to 1979
- C.From 1923 to 1979
- D.From 1966 to 1970correct
Olavi Saarinen served as a Member of Parliament from 5 April 1966 to 22 March 1970.
Source: parliamentary service
11.What was the nationality of Olavi Saarinen?
- A.Swedish
- B.Finnishcorrect
- C.Danish
- D.Norwegian
Olavi Saarinen was a Finnish trade union activist and politician.
Source: biography opening
12.Which specific ministerial title did Olavi Saarinen hold?
- A.Minister of Finance
- B.Minister of Education
- C.Minister of Foreign Affairs
- D.Minister of Social Affairs and Healthcorrect
Olavi Saarinen served as a Minister of Social affairs and Health.
Source: ministerial service
13.What was the political transition Olavi Saarinen underwent in 1959?
- A.Retiring from all trade union duties
- B.Leaving politics for activism
- C.Becoming an independent politician
- D.Joining the Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholderscorrect
After 1959, Olavi Saarinen was a member of the Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholders.
Source: political career
14.Which of these periods covers Olavi Saarinen's time in the Parliament?
- A.1962-1963
- B.1966-1970correct
- C.1970-1979
- D.1959-1962
Olavi Saarinen served as a Member of Parliament from 5 April 1966 to 22 March 1970.
Source: parliamentary service
15.In what location was Olavi Saarinen born?
- A.Dragsfjärdcorrect
- B.Tampere
- C.Helsinki
- D.Turku
Olavi Saarinen was born in Dragsfjärd on 18 October 1923.
Source: biography opening
People who died on November 30
Related People
Spotted an error?
Help us keep the archive accurate. Report a correction with a source.
Report an error for Olavi Saarinen →Advertisement
