Born in the Bronx on October 28, 1941, Christine Ann Johnson was the second daughter of Emil and Sonja Johnson. Chris was raised in the small town of Brewster, just north of New York’s Westchester County. She attended local schools there and following high school went on to graduate from Buffalo State University in 1963 with a degree in art education. She roomed with her new found friend Pat Wallace Grando while at college, and the two remained friends to the end. With Chris’s long blonde hair and Pat’s black hair, the pair was known back then as Betty and Veronica, named after the famous pair in Archie comics.
In late summer of 1962 while visiting an artist friend in Provincetown, Chris met Chuck Leigh, who was living in Provincetown. Chuck chased her down Commercial Street after he spotted her walking with her friend Pat. The love affair began, leading to marriage on the Cape in the fall of 1963.
Following marriage, the pair lived on Long Island for a while, where Chris pursued her interest in painting and Chuck ran a small construction business. Chris’s painting evolved into ceramics, which she sold at local craft shows. While pursuing that course, she was introduced to stained glass art. She taught herself how to work with stained glass, and like everything else she did, excelled at it. Chris had begun selling her stained glass creations, and when Chuck was injured and unable to continue his construction work, he became Chris’s helper. The two traveled the east coast, selling Chris’s stained glass panels and constructions at juried exhibitions. Her work received praise and was acquired by many, including a number of well known people. She was the recipient of best in show awards, and was written about in the press. Aside from stained glass, she continued her painting, and also taught herself the art of cloisonné. She drew on her oil paintings for many of the designs found in those disciplines. Chris was not afraid of hard work, and was adept at carpentry and masonry. One of her projects was the design and installation of a sculptural brick patio at her Truro home. She loved fishing, and joined Chuck in his surf fishing pursuit of striped bass. Chris caught a number of large stripers, and also enjoyed flounder fishing with Chuck from the Provincetown wharf in the fall.
Chris died at home during the night of January 28th, after having been released from Cape Cod Hospital for the treatment of pneumonia. She was predeceased by her son Adam and sister Barbara, as well as her parents. She is survived by her son Noah and husband Chuck. In accordance with Chris’s wishes, there will be no services and her ashes will be placed on the beaches of the back shore, one of her favorite places, near those of her son and her sister.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Truro Rescue Squad, 344 Route 6, Truro Massachusetts 02652.