Birgitta Eivor Moylan, a distinguished bacteriologist at Johns Hopkins University and a prominent figure in Baltimore’s Swedish community, passed away on October 23, 2023, due to congestive heart failure at her residence in Homeland. She was 84 years old.
Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Birgitta was the daughter of Sigurd Valther Jansson, an executive with the Stockholm Tramways, and Irma Birgitta Andersson Jansson, who owned a restaurant named Fregatten. Her early years were spent working at her great-aunt’s general store on the island of Yxlan in Stockholm’s archipelago. Birgitta graduated from Bromma Kommunala Flickskola in 1959 and later continued her education at the Karolinska Institute, where she trained as a bacteriologist.
In October 1963, she moved to Baltimore’s Hamilton neighborhood to join the renowned team at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Her son, Stephan Moylan, remarked on her bold decision to relocate, stating, “She took a huge chance in coming to Baltimore. She picked Johns Hopkins and said, ‘I’ve heard of that.’” Birgitta found immense joy in her work, which she pursued with passion and dedication.
Birgitta’s personal life entwined with her professional journey when she met her future husband, Martin Moylan, following an article about her work published in the News American. A photographer connected Martin, an attorney, with Birgitta’s contact information. Their first date, humorously remembered by her son, included a misunderstanding about Martin’s profession, which he clarified later.
After raising three children, Birgitta returned to Johns Hopkins, this time at the Bayview Medical Center, where she worked in the asthma and allergy research center alongside Dr. Robert Naclerio, an otolaryngologist. Her commitment to her field remained steadfast throughout her life.
Beyond her professional achievements, Birgitta was deeply involved in preserving her Swedish heritage. She was an active member of the Sveaborg Society of Maryland, which allowed her to connect with fellow Swedish-Americans at various Lutheran churches across Baltimore. “Her Swedish accent got stronger through time. She was always involved with food,” her son shared, noting her extensive collection of cookbooks and her talent for hosting vibrant gatherings.
Birgitta’s legacy is not only marked by her professional accomplishments but also by her vibrant personality. “She was a social butterfly. She was socially active until the day she died,” her son reflected.
Her husband, Martin Moylan, passed away in 2019. Birgitta is survived by her two sons, Judge Stephan Moylan of Oakland, Maryland, and Christopher Moylan of Stockholm, Sweden; her daughter, Martina Dilks of Baltimore; a sister, Maja Berg, of Degeberga, Sweden; a brother, Christer Jansson, of Stockholm; and seven grandchildren.
The family plans to announce funeral arrangements at a later date.
