Dorothy Chrisman
1927-Jan. 14, 2006
Palo Alto, California

Dorothy (Taffy) Chrisman, a retired art therapist and a resident of Palo Alto for more than a half century, died at her home Jan. 14, 2006, with her husband of 53 years, Channing Chrisman, at her side. She was 78. A native of St. Paul, Minn., she received a bachelor's degree in art history from Stanford University in 1949. She worked briefly at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, then moved to Palo Alto with her new husband.

After raising six children, she resumed her art studies and received a master's degree in art therapy from the Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, after which she began a career as a sand-play therapist.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Bard and Jenny Chrisman and grandson Brad of Point Richmond; daughter and son-in-law Laurel and Daniel Clohossey and granddaughter Paloma of Menlo Park; son Will Chrisman and daughter-in-law Lynn Berkeley of Menlo Park; son David Chrisman and fiancee Yvonne Caro Caro of Los Angeles; son Roger Chrisman and daughter-in-law Susan Wu and grandson Jeb of Palo Alto; and son and daughter-in-law Raymond and Maye Chrisman and granddaughter Mikaela of San Francisco. She also is survived by a sister, Neita Klaeger of Neckargemund, Germany, and a brother, Roger Countryman of Austin, Texas.

Tags: arts/media