Chrisann Brennan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chrisann Brennan
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Chrisann Brennan in the 1972 edition of the Pegasus yearbook produced by Homestead High School
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| Born | September 29, 1954 Dayton, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupation | Painter |
| Notable works | The Bite in the Apple (memoir) |
| Partner | Steve Jobs (1972–1977) |
| Children | Lisa Brennan-Jobs |
Chrisann Brennan (born September 29, 1954) is an American artist and writer. She is known for her paintings and for writing a book called The Bite in the Apple. This book shares her experiences with Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. They had a daughter together, Lisa Brennan-Jobs.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Chrisann Brennan was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1954. She was one of four daughters. Her parents were James Richard Brennan and Virginia Lavern Rickey. Chrisann was named after the chrysanthemum flower.
In her book, Brennan mentions that she is dyslexic. She believes this made her think differently and helped her become a creative problem-solver. Her family moved several times, living in places like Colorado Springs, Colorado and Nebraska. They eventually settled in Sunnyvale, California.
Brennan went to Homestead High School in Cupertino, California. This is where she first met Steve Jobs in early 1972.
Her Relationship with Steve Jobs
Brennan and Jobs began their relationship in 1972 while they were still in high school. Brennan stayed close with Jobs even when he went to Reed College. In mid-1973, Jobs moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area. They continued to see each other, even while dating other people.
After high school, Brennan visited Jobs at the All One Farm, a commune in Oregon. She was very inspired by the people she met and worked with there. In early 1975, Brennan joined a Zen Buddhist group in Los Altos. Through this group, she met and worked with the Zen master Kobun. Brennan also studied art at Foothill College.
Later, Brennan moved to the All One Farm and then traveled through India for a year.
Working at Apple
After returning from India, Brennan visited Jobs, who was living at his parents' home. During this time, they became close again. Jobs showed Brennan and his parents a prototype of the Apple I computer in their living room. Brennan noticed that Jobs was very focused on both Apple and Kobun. By early 1977, she and Jobs spent time at her home at Duveneck Ranch in Los Altos. Brennan also worked there as a teacher for children learning about the farm.
As Apple became more successful, Brennan's relationship with Jobs became more complicated. In 1977, Brennan, Daniel Kottke, and Jobs moved into a house near the Apple office in Cupertino, California. Brennan initially planned to focus on her art. However, she needed a job and started working at Apple in the Shipping Department. She helped test, assemble, and ship Apple II computers. She also took art classes at De Anza College.
In October 1977, an Apple employee named Rod Holt offered Brennan an apprenticeship to design blueprints for Apple products. Both Holt and Jobs thought it would be a good job for her because of her artistic skills. However, Brennan found out she was pregnant and that Jobs was the father. She told Jobs, but he did not want to discuss the pregnancy. Brennan felt unsure about what to do. She talked to Kobun, who encouraged her to have the baby and offered his support. Brennan decided not to take the internship and left Apple.
Her Daughter, Lisa Brennan-Jobs
Brennan gave birth to her daughter, Lisa Brennan, on May 17, 1978. She was 23 years old. Jobs did not attend the birth. He visited later after their friend Robert Friedland contacted him. Jobs and Brennan worked together to name the baby. Brennan suggested "Lisa." Jobs was very fond of the name, even though he was not publicly saying he was the father. Brennan later learned that Jobs was planning a new computer and wanted to give it a female name. She said she never gave him permission to use her baby's name for a computer. Jobs and his team came up with the name "Local Integrated System Architecture" for the Apple Lisa computer. However, years later, Jobs told his biographer Walter Isaacson that the computer was indeed named after his daughter.
Brennan thought about adoption before and after Lisa's birth but decided to raise Lisa as a single parent. Jobs later apologized for his behavior during that time. He said he should have taken responsibility. Over time, Jobs developed a strong relationship with Lisa. Lisa wanted her name changed, and Jobs agreed. So, her birth certificate was changed to Lisa Brennan-Jobs.
A DNA test confirmed that Jobs was Lisa's father. He was required to provide financial support for Lisa. When Apple became a public company, Jobs became a millionaire. Brennan worked as a waitress. Later, Brennan gave an interview to Michael Moritz for Time magazine in 1982. She decided to be honest about her relationship with Jobs. The Time magazine issue, which came out in January 1983, focused on "Machine of the Year: The Computer Moves In" instead of "Person of the Year." In the article, Jobs questioned the paternity test results. After this, Brennan did not pay much attention to Steve's career.
Over the years, Brennan and Jobs worked together to co-parent Lisa, especially after Jobs left Apple for a time. Brennan believes that Jobs's relationship with his biological sister, Mona Simpson, helped him improve his relationship with Lisa.
Becoming a Painter
In the late 1980s, Brennan decided to finish her formal education. She began studying at the California College of Arts and Crafts. She asked Jobs to pay for her tuition, and he happily agreed. This was part of his growing relationship with Lisa. In 1989, she transferred to the San Francisco Art Institute.
Brennan has lived in Monterey, California, and works as a professional painter. She calls her art "light encoded paintings." She often creates art for private clients or companies. She has also painted murals for places like the Ronald McDonald House, Los Angeles County Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and Packard Children's Hospital. Brennan says that painting is like a language for her. She enjoys mixing letters and paintings to create new ways of expressing information.
Her Books
- Brennan, Chrisann. The Bite in the Apple. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2013.
Portrayals in Movies
Chrisann Brennan has been shown in several movies:
- She was played by Gema Zamprogna in Pirates of Silicon Valley.
- Ahna O'Reilly played her in Jobs.
- Katherine Waterston played her in Steve Jobs.
