Chiori Santiago (1952–2007)

“Chiori Santiago, a writer who covered the Bay Area visual arts, performance and music scene for more than 20 years, died early Saturday after a short battle with kidney cancer. She was 54.

Ms. Santiago died at Alta Bates Summit surrounded by a small group of family and friends after she requested that life support be turned off, said her son Roberto Santiago, 30.”

Adapted from the bio in Home to Medicine Mountain and City of Oakland Crafts and Cultural Arts Cultural Funding Program Funding Advisory Committee Member Bios

As a child, Chiori Santiago and her family lived in Asia and Europe while her father worked with the Asia Foundation. Of Japanese, Italian, and Native American descent, Chiori believes that being part of a multiracial family and having lived in various cultures has greatly influenced her perspective as a writer. She feels that the common childhood experiences she and Judith shared gave her the personal insight and connection she needed to write Home to Medicine Mountain. A freelance writer and editor, Chiori Santiago contributes articles frequently to both regional and national publications. She worked as a contributing editor for Parenting and Mas magazines and as a regular columnist for Mas and Diablo magazines. She has also been a feature writer for Smithsonian magazine since 1993. Santiago has served as an art critic and cultural writer for the Oakland Tribune and San Jose Mercury News and as Latin music critic for the East Bay Express. She is the recipient of the Gloria Hess Award for Travel Writing in 2000, and the American Book Award in 1999 for her first children’s book, Home to Medicine Mountain. Santiago has Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California at Berkeley as well as a California Elementary Teaching Credential. Santiago is an appointed member of the Community Advisory Committee of the U.C. Berkeley Art Museum.