Robert Etigson

Robert Etigson died on July 24, 2012 at is home in Ruidoso. He was born in Toledo, Ohio on September 8, 1927 to George and Jenny Etigson.

Rob first came to New Mexico in 1948 to study art in Taos. He was an accomplished artist, singer, storyteller, puppeteer, camp director and expressive arts therapist. His career included art direction for the Denver Art Museums Childrens Program and community centers in Chicago, art therapy at the Orthogenic School at the University of Chicago,teaching in the Art Education Department at the University of New Mexico and many years of work with the Indian Childrens Program in Albuquerque where he pioneered the use of art therapy in Indian communities throughout the United States. Rob is widely known throughout New Mexico for his spontaneous gifts of pen and ink drawings to people he met and liked. Rob was a gentle, generous and loving man who will be greatly missed by those who loved him.

He is survived by his wife, Sandy two sons, Joseph and his wife Toni of Toronto and Sean of Albuquerque a stepson, Rob Taylor and his wife Marian of Ruidoso and 9 grandchildren, Daniel, Rachel, Joshua, Natasha and Lachiam Teigson, Jerry and Mississa Balderama, Gagriel and Moriah Taylor.