John Ingolf Alvheim (21 May 1930 – 5 December 2005) was a Norwegian politician for the Progress Party. He was a nurse anesthetist by profession, and served as aid worker in several developing countries during the 1970s. Alvheim was highly respected, also by his political opponents, for his vigorous fight for society's disadvantaged.
He also devoted much of his life to help less fortunate children in developing countries, building an orphanage for children in Bangladesh in 1979. He was married in 1980 to nurse Aune-Liisa Kankaanpää (born 29 December 1944).[2]
Alvheim co-authored the autobiographyFra småting til Storting with Maj-Lis Stordal in 1990.[2]
Political career
Alvheim started his political career for the Christian Democratic Party. He was elected to a local office in Notodden for the party in 1967 and was a deputy Member of Parliament for the party from 1973 to 1977. During the 1980s he however changed to the Progress Party, and in 1989 was elected into the Norwegian parliament from Telemark. He was a member of the Health Committee from 1989 to 2005, the last eight years as its leader.[2]
Memoria
To his honor, the "Honorary Award of John I. Alvheim" (John I. Alvheim ærespris) has since 2005 been awarded annually by the Progress Party to someone who has made a special effort for the weak in society.[2] Alvheim was present to give the first award himself at the Progress Party national convention on 21 May 2005, but died in December later the same year of a heart attack after many years being a smoker.
