Ernest Christman

Ernest H. Christman, M.D., 91, of Albuquerque, passed away on September 23, 2025. Dr. Christman was born in Pottstown, PA, and lived in Reading, PA. Dr. Christman graduated from Muhlenberg College and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (1960). He was an intern at Philadelphia General Hospital (1960-61). After serving as a Captain in the US Army Medical Corps in France, Dr. Christman was an ophthalmology resident at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (1964-67) and taught at Harvard University Medical College. Dr. Christman was certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and had successful ophthalmology practices in Philadelphia, PA, Santa Fe and Albuquerque, NM. He was a passionate advocate for teaching phonics and was the author of Prescription for Reading: Teach Them Phonics, and the Progressive Phonics series. He was a collector of Southwestern art and the author of Casas Grandes Pre-Columbian Pottery Decoded: Of Gods and Myths. Dr. Christman is survived by his wife, Ruth, and his children Catherine (Peter) Barber and E. Daniel Christman, his grandchildren Elizabeth (Joseph) Sloma and Gregory Barber (Reshena Liao), and his great-grandson Francis N. Sloma. He is also survived by his sister, Jane Pincin and sister-in-law Judy Siegart. A military funeral will take place on Monday, October 13, 2025 - Santa Fe National Cemetery at 10:00am