Christine Koyama was born and raised in Chicago Illinois in the Washington Heights neighborhood where she attended Mt Vernon Elementary. She went on to graduate Valedictorian from Fenger High School. She attained an MBA in Comparative Literature at the University of Illinois. She worked teaching at U of I as a TA where she received an award for teaching comparative literature having increased enrollment in that study due to her popularity. That award exists on Campus….somewhere.
After leaving the University, she moved into the professional world as an events editor at the Chicago Magazine. She later moved on to theater review at the Chicago magazine, leading her to freelance work with NY Times, and the LA Times. LA introduced her to Hollywood where she ultimately became a movie set writer for Veronica Hamel.
She met her husband through mutual friends Mike Genevese and Ellen Crawford, and left Hollywood for him in 1990. They were married for 33 years
She had brief stints at Emory Advertising and Sierra Medical Hospital. Finding the Corporate world distasteful she went out on her own with Koyama Interactive. After retiring she spent time with family and friends, ate, drank and loved life.
She is preceded in death by her mother Jym and father Cecil. She is survived by her Brother Glen, Husband Charles, Sister-in-law Debra, brother-in-law Ed, nieces Alexis, and Danielle, and step son Ryan Smith.
In Lieu of flowers please make a donation to El Paso Animal Shelter located at 5001 Fred Wilson Ave.
