Meet Birgitta & John Houghton: A 50 Year Golden Celebration of Music and Love

By Karl Mettinger

When Birgitta, the blond secretary from Karolinska arrived in New York she was looking for music, talent and love. Before long a friend told her about this young man from SF who personified all requirements: He was a financial business owner as well as a musician and brilliant jazz pianist. He was a favorite CPA for some of the established professionals in Silicon Valley and in his spare time one of the celebrated bar pianists in some of the fashionable hotels in SF. It was love at the first date and within months they married and were both on the way to living together in San Francisco.

Now they are looking forward to celebrating their 50-th wedding anniversary later this coming year.

Both are gems in our Swedish Community and Church, where Birgitta is the Treasurer after serving many years on the Church Council. John is our favorite entertainer at fundraises and frequently volunteers in our services and on special occasions.

We have been very curious learning more about how they met and their life philosophy and asked some questions to Birgitta:

Tell us about your roots in Sweden and when you first got involved in the church there and your education.

I grew up in Huskvarna, went to church and Sunday school. I liked the music and was in the choir, my relatives were always active in singing and the Church.
I went to school in Huskvarna and continued my education in Stockholm to become a Medical Secretary. I worked at Karolinska until 1968 when I left for New York.

Where and when did you meet you husband?

I met John in NY through a friend in 1972, and we both had strong interests in music, the outdoors, and people in general.

Tell us when and why you moved to San Francisco and how you discovered the Swedish Church here.

I came to SF in 1973 to be with John, my husband. I was interested in keeping my Swedish connections and got involved with SWEA and the Church of Sweden through my Swedish girlfriends when we lived in Los Altos. While I was here in SF, I volunteered at St Anthony’s dining room for over fifteen years and found it rewarding helping others.

How has the pandemic affected your life and our church?

I like the social connection of the Swedish community that the Church provides, I missed that during the pandemic. Goals of the Church for me are to have more music events, children's theatre groups, and activities that attract younger people and families.