Christopher Bergman

Christopher Bergman As the Dec. 5, 2006 Chronicle reported, Christopher Bergman, Director of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) at the San Francisco SPCA, died December 2 at the age of 57, after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. Before his SPCA work, Chris was a substance abuse counselor, musician, and music columnist. In The Bond, an AAT newsletter, Chris opposed "species-ism" and human chauvinism, celebrated the healing power of human-animal interactions, and proclaimed: "We are all one organism" (http://www.sfspca.org/aat/ index.shtml). Like stories of St. Francis, Chris had a wonderful way with animals of many kinds-and a special spark of compassion, gentleness, humor, and irreverence that entranced human animals of all ages. He wrote: Whatever the distinctions, this intense mysterious experience we call living brings all who are, were, or will be alive together. We can look at an animal of our own ilk or any other and say, "We are both experiencing the strange spectacular sensations of being alive, you no less than I. May I be saved from the crippling arrogance that may lead me to disregard or victimize you, for truth be told, we are both part of the same organism: Life on Earth." Chris is deeply grieved and loved by: his partner, Michael; his sister Miranda and partner, Felix Shafer; brother, Lincoln and sister-in-law, Lisa Simpson; nieces, Anna and Caitlin; aunt, Dorothy Broms; aunt, Deborah Le Sueur and partner, Matthew Siegel; lifelong friends, Joe Plato, Luise Vorsatz, Gayle Markow; dear colleagues, Mary Stack and Craig O'Brien-and many others. The family appreciates the care of the Home Nursing Hospice. Cards from co-workers remembered his jazz piano playing and hallway singing. A portrait of Chris with his cat is painted in the mural Educate to Liberate: Lessons in Community at the City College/John Adams campus, Masonic and Hayes. A memorial celebration will be scheduled early next year.