It is with great sadness that Biathlon NB announces the passing of Ray Kokkonen June 12, 2025.
Ray was born in Finland and was a 38-year veteran of the Canadian Forces. He served as an Artillery officer, retired in 1996 and lived in Trout Brook, NB. During military service, his tours of duty included locations across Canada, Europe and with the UN in the Middle East. As a point of interest, he was in Libya on desert warfare training with British Forces in 1969 when Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi seized power by coup d’état to become the dictator of Libya, causing the British Forces in Libya to mobilize on an operational basis, in which Captain Kokkonen participated. As well, he was deployed for the national October Crisis in 1970 guarding the Prime Minister, and at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal leading his 35-man troop as VIP security. He also served as a paratrooper.
Ray began his career in uniform in the 2310 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario in 1954. He participated for four years prior to joining the Canadian Army, attending summer camps in Ipperwash and Borden, and achieved the rank of Cadet Major – the Army Cadets had Cadet officer ranks then.
In addition to his military duties, he was deeply involved in the sport of Biathlon since 1967 as an athlete, coach, official and administrator. He took part in nine Olympic Games in an official capacity, including being the Biathlon Competition Chief in the 1988 Calgary Games. He served as the President and Board Chairman of Biathlon Canada for 14 years and later as the President of Biathlon NB for 20 years. Internationally, in the International Biathlon Union (IBU), he was a senior technical official and elected functionary for 35 years of which he was the Rules Committee Chair for 18 years and also the Congress Speaker for six years during the same period. His last position was as the elected Auditor of the IBU for 17 years. He was also selected as an Olympic Torchbearer prior to the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.
He is a former competitor and coach in Judo and is qualified as a 1st Dan (Shodan) Black Belt.
Prior to his passing, he was the Honorary President of Legion Branch #10, Immediate Past National President and Membership Director, and Miramichi Chapter President of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association (CPVA), a veterans organization with Chapters throughout the country. He is a member of the Veterans Affairs Ministerial Advisory Group and participates in many veterans advocacy meetings with the Minister and other senior Veterans Affairs officials. Additionally, he was the Parade Commander for 16 years for the Remembrance Day parades held in Newcastle.
For his work for veterans and in sport, Ray has received numerous awards, including:
- The International Biathlon Union Medal of Honour in Gold
- Induction into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, Canadian Forces Sports Hall of Fame and the Sport Officials Canada Hall of Fame
- The Order of New Brunswick
- Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation and Veterans Ombudsman’s Commendation
- The Queen’s Silver, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals, Canada 125 Medal, Canada 150 Community Leadership Award and the King Charles III Coronation Medal
- Canada Certificate of Merit and Alberta Achievement Award
- Miramichi Sports Wall of Fame
- Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow
- along with many other lesser organizational awards
The biathlon family has lost another great soul. Ray will be deeply missed by everyone.