Susan Bergman
BornSusan Claire Heche
(1957-05-05)May 5, 1957
Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.
DiedJanuary 1, 2006(2006-01-01) (aged 48)
Barrington, Illinois, U.S.
Occupationwriter
EducationBA, Art, Wheaton College (Illinois), 1979
PhD, Literature, Northwestern University, 1992
(specialization: 20th Century poetry)[1]
Genrememoir, poetry, nonfiction, essay
Subjectautobiography, religion
Notable worksAnonymity (1994)
Spouse
Judson Bergman
​
(m. 1979)​
ChildrenElliot Bergman
Natalie Bergman
RelativesNancy Heche (mother)
Anne Heche (sister)
Website
SusanBergman.com
(archived)

Susan Bergman (née Heche; May 5, 1957 – January 1, 2006)[1] was an American writer and literary scholar.

Biography and works

Bergman wrote her memoir Anonymity in 1994,[2] which recounts the discovery, in 1983, of the closeted homosexuality and double life of her father, Don Heche, a devout Christian, choir director, and seemingly model family man, while he was dying of HIV/AIDS.[1][3][4][5] Anonymity had its beginnings as Bergman's doctoral dissertation at Northwestern University.[5]

Bergman was the sister of actress Anne Heche,[1] who also wrote a memoir about their father and family background, in 2001. Heche's account differed in her accusations of sexual abuse against Don Heche, as well as detailing her tensions with the rest of the Heche family, leading to a rift, including with Susan.

In 1996, Bergman was editor of an anthology titled Martyrs: Contemporary Writers on Modern Lives of Faith,[6] in which contemporary authors reflected on the lives of 20th Century religious and political martyrs. Bergman contributed the introductory chapter, a reflection on the nature of martyrdom and what it teaches about faith.[7][8][9]

Like most of her family, Bergman was a life-long evangelical Christian, and religious themes are a frequent subject of her writing. In 1996, Christianity Today named her in their profile of "Up and Comers: Fifty evangelical leaders 40 and under".[10] However, she stated that she did not consider herself part of the Christian right. Quoting the words of a friend of hers, Bergman stated: "I dare to believe that when Jesus invites all who labor and are heavy-laden, he's not screening for HIV, or voting behavior, or asking whether or not someone has had a divorce, or an abortion."[11]

Bergman died on January 1, 2006, in Barrington, Illinois at the age of 48, after a three-year battle against a brain tumor.[1]

Bibliography

Books

  • Bergman, Susan (1994). Anonymity. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374254079.
  • Buried Life. (unpublished)

Anthologies

  • Bergman, Susan (1996). Martyrs: Contemporary Writers on Modern Lives of Faith. HarperSanFrancisco. ISBN 0060611200. (editor)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Sherlock, Barbara (January 2, 2006). "Chicago Tribune: Susan Bergman 1957–2006". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  2. ↑ Kirkus Reviews (1993-12-01). "Anonymity by Susan Bergman (review)". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  3. ↑ Kelly, Joyce (February 5, 1994). "Revealing Truths". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  4. ↑ Glass, Ira (host) (January 17, 1996). "Double Lives". This American Life. Episode 10. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Times Staff and Wire Reports (January 4, 2006). "Susan Bergman, 48; Wrote of Her Father's Secret Life as a Gay Man". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  6. ↑ Kirkus Reviews (August 1, 1996). "Martyrs: Contemporary Writers on Modern Lives of Faith, edited by Susan Bergman". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  7. ↑ Staff (September 9, 1996). ""Martyrs: Contemporary Writers on Modern Lives of Faith"". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  8. ↑ Lapp, John A. (1999). "Book Review: "Martyrs: Contemporary Writers on Modern Lives of Faith"". International Bulletin of Missionary Research. 23 (1): 45. doi:10.1177/239693939902300122. ISSN 0272-6122. S2CID 149077801. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  9. ↑ Bergman, Susan (August 12, 1996). "Faith Unto Death, Part 1". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on February 15, 2009.
    "Faith Unto Death, Part 2". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved August 25, 2022. (CT publication of Bergman's introductory chapter in Martyrs.)
  10. ↑ Christianity Today Staff (November 11, 1996). "Up & Comers (Part 2)". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  11. ↑ Bergman, Susan (writer); Glass, Ira (host) (November 14, 1997). "One of Us. Act III: My Church Life". This American Life. Episode 83. Retrieved August 25, 2022. transcript
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