Remembering Signa Judith Irwin Houghteling
insiya dhatt
I would like to express my gratitude for the role that Judy Houghteling played in my life as a friend and mentor.
Judy came into my life as the companion of my father-in-law. As fellow Aquarian bookbinders we bonded instantly, even when I “mowed the lawn under her feet” as the French say, beating her to the punch binding my father-in-law’s book before she had the time to do it.
She supported my desire to change careers and become a conservator from the get go. She put me in touch with Maureen Duke, and from our conversations, it became clear that Camberwell College was the right choice for me. Judy went on paying relevant publications subscriptions and memberships for me while I was studying. She put me in touch with Karen Zukor, allowing me to add valuable internships to my curriculum, while getting acquainted with California. Judy also had my work displayed in several exhibitions, and provided the opportunity for me to give a talk at the The American Bookbinders Museum.
For the past 12 years, Judy was a constant presence in our family life, either visiting every year while we lived in London, and certainly more so now that we moved to San Francisco, when we would see each other weekly. She often said I was “the son she’d never had”.
After she decided she would stop bookbinding, she gave me her bookbinding-related library and documentation as well as all her equipment and materials. I never thought one could accumulate that many bone folders!
Towards the end as her illness progressed, she wouldn’t say much but she would hold my hand and I felt we both acknowledged a special connection. I’ve been a mentor for others, but the added layer of like-mindedness and friendship makes the bond very special and I hope I can replicate that for someone else in the future to honor her memory and legacy.
I took that photo near our place in London, an evening we were goofing around on our way back from dinner, ten years ago.
- Laurent Cruveillier
I knew Judy since my first bookbinding class with Eleanore Ramsey, as Judy and I were in Eleanore's class of 2 on Monday afternoons. During this time I joined the Hand Bookbinders, which met the first Tuesday of each month excluding summers. Judy was often the president and most often the so-called coordinator who brought snacks in a little suitcase on wheels. She was so very nice to many of the members and when I was 75 I told her I was marrying again. She immediately scheduled an engagement dinner for Bob and me in her lovely home overlooking the bay. She invited my family and it was lovely. Fourteen years before this my first husband, Paul, was quite ill and found it hard to eat. I was telling Judy this in bookbinding class and when I got home I found she had brought jello by in different colors and shapes. He loved it. Judy then continued to do this every week unti he died, altogether about 8 weeks.
- Sally Kaufmann Cowan