UT Blog

There’s no question that the University of Tartu is alma mater to a number of Estonians and foreigners, but next to education, many have also found their love here. With Valentine’s Day upon us, it’s a perfect time to look past the academic achievements and deep into the hearts of our university family.

Eeva and Ain Heinaru. Swept off their feet

Eeva and Ain Heinaru have been together for more than half a century and celebrated their golden wedding anniversary just three years ago. All that may have never happened if it wasn’t for the eye-catching flat cap that Ain used to wear in his student days.

When asked about when they first met, Ain reflects for a moment. It was so long ago that the exact year eludes him. “It must have been in 1964 or 1965,” Ain finally concludes. However, he clearly remembers the first time they met. “I went to a microbiology practical class and there was a crowd of young ladies there. They took a liking to my funny flat cap and started to throw it around,” Ain says. “One young lady was particularly enthusiastic about it,” he chuckles. The young lady was Eeva.

After that first meeting, Ain and Eeva kept on talking and became a couple. They loved to travel and went on adventurous trips already in student days. Together they also earned money for their travels. “In those days, students used to transport cattle to other countries,” Ain explains. “Mostly it was calves that were transported by train to Kazakhstan and elsewhere in Central Asia. There were two of us in the railway carriage, a bale of hay in the middle, and next to us the animals that we had to take care of,” he tells. “That way we could visit Ukraine, Crimea, the Caucasus and Kazakhstan.”

The pay received was used to finance upcoming travels, including also climbing mountains. “For example, we’ve been to Mt. Elbrus. My wife climbed up to 5,000 metres, I went all the way to the top,” Ain recalls. “We’ve also enjoyed our travels to the Askania-Nova nature reserve in Ukraine and to Central Asian cities – these were great fun.”

Since graduation, they have worked side by side at the Department of Genetics of the University of Tartu – Ain as a professor and Eeva as a microbiology researcher. Today Ain is a professor emeritus while Eva works as a project manager at the Department of Genetics. Working together has made them more appreciative of each other and has taught supportive skills. “For many years, I was more away from home than at home. My wife has had a major role in our life,” Ain confesses. “When you’re abroad, you are not even around to help with raising the children.” Ain and Eeva have two daughters, Piret and Maris.

These days, Ain and Eva do not travel as much. Instead, they often visit their country house near Elva that they fixed up as a side hobby. “My wife has created a beautiful garden there that she tends to. You’re in nature, breathing in clean air – this is very important,” Ain says.

What could today’s students do to find a suitable partner from the university? “There’s nothing you can do because love comes when you least expect it,” Ain replies. So all you can do is hope for that to happen. “When young people spend time together, things always happen,” Ain says and concludes that people who are not too alike are the best match. “There must be some differences so that you can complement each other. Living together is a form of art.”