Susan Bergman

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

Biography and works

She was notably the author of the memoir Anonymity (1994) 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. Anonymity had its beginnings as Bergman's doctoral dissertation at Northwestern University.

Susan Bergman was the sister of actress Anne Heche, who also wrote a memoir in 2001 on their father and family background. Heche's account differed in a number of details, notably 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, in which contemporary authors reflected on the lives of 20th Century religious and poltiical martyrs. Bergman contributed the introductory chapter, a reflection on the nature of martyrdom and what it teaches about faith.

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". However, she stated that she did not consider herself part of the Christian right. Quoting the words of a friend of hers, Bergman states: "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."

She died on January 1, 2006, in Barrington, Illinois at the age of 48, after a three-year battle against a brain tumour.

Bibliography

• Anonymity. 1994. ISBN 0374254079.
• Buried Life. (unpublished)

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