Jo Anne Christian passes away

Civic leader Jo Anne Martin Christian, 79, has died. Christian is best known among arts activists for her leadership in making the Long Center for the Performing Arts a reality, along with her friends Jare Smith and Jane Sibley. Together they were known as the three J’s. Christian was the widow of the late George Christian, press secretary to President Lyndon B. Johnson. She also had the distinction of being one of only four women to enter the University of Texas School of Law in 1958. Along with her husband, she raised six children, including well-known public relations consultant Elizabeth Christian, the wife of former Mayor Bruce Todd. In addition to championing the Long Center, Christian was a cheerleader for the Blanton Museum of Art and the Austin Symphony Orchestra. She was also a founder of the Austin Lyric Opera. Mayor Steve Adler remembered her at last night’s City Council meeting, sending condolences to her family.