He was born in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of Per Gustav Nordholm from Blekinge, Sweden, and died in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, USA. In 1932 Birger married Margit Ellen Nilsson (1902-1974) and they have descendants in the USA. In Sweden, Birger had previous children with Alice Fallai.
After working in New York City, Birger moved to Weston, Connecticut. A street was renamed to Nordholm Drive in his honor, and his home became a meeting place for Swedish-Americans during midsummer and other festivities.
He was awarded Knight of the orders of: Wasa (1939), Norten star (1952), Danish Dannebrogen, Finnish White rose, and St. Olavs orden in Norway. Street of honor: Nordholm drive, Weston, Connecticut, USA. 1987 Birger was also granted the golden key to the New York town hall.