93-year-old architect sets sights on 100

Architect Þorvaldur S. Þorvaldsson, who is 93, plans to live to 100, mbl.is reports. He remains active, regularly attends concerts and cultural events, and hosts discussion and music programmes at Mörkin, where he lives.

“I am simply grateful every day and try to do my best,” Þorvaldur told the newspaper during a recent visit.

Music has been his main interest throughout his life. His mother regularly took him to concerts organised by the Music Society in Hafnarfjörður, where he grew up.

“I have been attending concerts for as long as I can remember. I have followed the Iceland Symphony Orchestra since it was founded in 1950 and immediately joined its friends’ association,” he said.

Þorvaldur recalled that he was 16 when the orchestra was founded. After hearing the news on the radio, he came to his mother in tears and told her that an orchestra had been established in Iceland.

His wife, Steinunn Jónsdóttir, died five years ago after battling Alzheimer’s disease. “It was difficult, but we had 70 wonderful years together. That is something to be grateful for,” he said.

Þorvaldur now has a close friend, Unnur María Figved, known as Unna Maja, who was also a classmate in secondary school and formerly worked as a teacher. They read poetry together, attend cultural events, go to the gym and support each other.

When asked whether it was possible to find a girlfriend in one’s nineties, Þorvaldur replied: “Easily.”

“Yes, I am aiming for it. I do not feel old,” he said when asked whether he intended to reach 100. He added that his doctor had joked that if he woke up without pain, he would no longer be on this side of life. “So I wake up cheerful with my aches in the morning, and then I know which side I am on,” Þorvaldur said with a laugh.

A detailed interview with Þorvaldur appears in Morgunblaðið’s Sunday edition.