As I was scrolling through Facebook yesterday I suddenly gasped when I saw this:

Chances are, few people outside the organ world probably heard his name. Here is an outdated bio of his work, which unfortunately does not reveal his travels all over the world, as an organ technician and consultant.

Richard Houghten attended the University of Michigan where he studied psychology.  Later he apprenticed in organ building with Dr. Robert Noehren, organist and organ builder, University Organist, and a former Chairman of the Organ Department.

Following his apprenticeship, Houghten remained in organ building, and in 1974 established the North American subsidiary of Solid State Logic, Limited, an English company founded in 1968 to supply electronic control systems to pipe organ builders.  During his tenure as President, and later Chairman of the Board, he oversaw the expansion of the company into the professional audio market, establishing offices in New York and Los Angeles to provide audio mixing consoles to the recording studio and broadcast industries.  During that time, SSL grew to become the largest private audio manufacturer in the world, with annual sales of $20M in the US alone.

Following the sale of SSL to a publicly-traded group and their decision to move the head office from Milan, Michigan to New York City, Houghten left the company for a period of three years, during which time he remained active in organ building and in 1989 became the North American representative for Aug. Laukhuff GmbH & Co. of Weikersheim, Germany, the largest supplier of pipe organ equipment in the world.

In 1990, Houghten returned to Solid State Organ Systems part-time as Director of Marketing and Product Development, a position which he held until 1995 when he left in order to become more fully involved in organ building.

Mr. Houghten now serves as an independent technical consultant to organ builders throughout North America, providing expertise in the design, application and installation of electronic control and memory systems to new and existing pipe organs. He also builds and restores high quality organ consoles, specializing in the E. M. Skinner and Aeolian-Skinner styles.

At the 1995 Convention of the American Institute of Organbuilders, Richard Houghten was elected to the Board of Directors, where he served as Director of Education.  At the 2000 Convention he was elected President of the Institute.  He now serves the AIO on the Journal Committee.

[UPDATE: The official obituary has been published here.]

Among his work on high profile instruments were Walt Disney Concert Hall, Longwood Gardens, Trinity Church Boston, Duke University Chapel, Harvard Memorial Church, and Lausanne Cathedral in Switzerland, which at a cost of $4.5 million in 2003 is considered the most expensive organ in the world.

I first met Dick when he installed the combination action at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu in 2003. Later he worked on the restorations of organs at Central Union Church and Kamehameha Schools, and was consulted about the restoration of the Aeolian-Skinner at St. Andrew’s Cathedral.

My latest communication with Dick was as recent as last October 2021, when I asked him about Hauptwerk digital organs. Here’s a picture of the instrument he built in his home.

Here are some of the reactions to his passing on his Facebook page:

(Marvin Mills) So, so sad to hear this. He was gracious, kind, witty, smart, and an all around nice guy. Sending big hugs.

(Steve McBride) Dear Richard Houghten, what a tremendous loss to our community. May the angels lead you into paradise.

(Dean Eckmann) So sorry to hear this. We will all miss him dearly as friend and grand wizard.

(Clayton Logue) Bill & I are saddened at this news. Vladimir we send our sincere condolences  May he Rest In Peace.

(Bill Van Pelt)The outpouring of lamentations reflects the depth of esteem in which he was held by so many who called him “friend,” and I am privileged to have been one. 

(Magnus Windelen) I’am so sad to hear that! I had often thoughts about him and his relationship to me and to Laukhuff, in the last month, while working for Laukhuff again. He was solid as a rock in the organbusiness in the US for us. Thanks so much Richard for your friendship and your trust! It was a big pleasure, to know you! Thanks for all! Ruhe in Frieden. Ich bete für Dich!

(Jacob Ferns) This is absolutely tragic. I am so sorry to hear this. He was working on the rebuild of the organ at Concordia University Ann Arbor, and his passing will be a heavy loss to our project and all those in which his knowledge was needed

(Charles Kennedy) Oh my goodness! I am simply stunned at this terrible news… Such a wonderful man and dear friend, and a tremendous support over the years. This is a tremendous loss. May he rest in peace. My sincere condolences to you and to the many people who were his dear friends and worked closely with him.

(Ken Cowan) My deep sympathy and condolences. He was always most kind to me and alongside his amazing breadth of knowledge, I’ll remember his obvious love for all things artistic and meaningful.

(Joel Martinson) I’m so very sorry to hear of Dick’s death. What a loss for you and the organ world.

(Bill Czelusniak) This is profoundly sad news, today, and a huge loss to the pipe organ world. I’m so sorry and send sincere condolences to Vlady, and all.

(John Schwandt) What a tremendous loss for the organ world and for all who knew him! Our condolences to you.

(Rick Isaacs) A terrible loss for us all, I will miss Richard so much