Robert Wright Jr., 90, of Kennett Square, died Monday, Nov. 4.
Born in Haddonfield, N.J. in 1923, he was raised by his parents, Robert and Dorothy Wright, and attended Haddonfield High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Lehigh College.
Growing up in southern New Jersey, he spent many summers at the Jersey shore. Bob had a love for and significant ability in mathematics, and also played the banjo as a child. WW II interrupted his college education, and he spent two years as an infantry and signal corps platoon leader in Europe, the Pacific, and finally in Japan. After completing his studies, he joined the DuPont Co. as an engineer and began a 30 career in engineering, manufacturing and marketing.
Bob courted and, in 1952, married his true love, Jane Paul (Wright), a writer and editor with Holiday Magazine. Jane had also attended Haddonfield High School and graduated from Wellesley College. During their 59-year marriage, Jane and Bob raised four children: Bob III, Susan, Janet and Peter. They lived in several cities around the country, finally settling in Wilmington.
Bob and Jane found and cultivated a common passion for sailing, leading to a rich life on the water. They cruised the Chesapeake Bay for 45 years and, during that time, shared many sailing adventures from Maine to Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. During spring and fall race seasons with the Georgetown Racing Fleet, Jane would take the helm while Bob, family and friends crewed (and obeyed orders). They passed their love of sailing, skiing, the outdoors and sport on to all their children.
After retirement, they moved to the Sassafras River on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where Bob and Jane lived and sailed for 20 great years. They enjoyed friends, roles in their church community, frequent visits from their children and nine grandchildren, golf, tennis, and travel. In the evenings, they were treated to stunning views of the sun setting over Ordinary Point and their sailboat, Contessa.
In 2006 they moved to Kendal at Longwood, a retirement community in Kennett Square. In the last few years, struggling with a deteriorating body and sadness over Jane’s 2011 death, the walls of Bob’s world narrowed to a few friends, visits from and card games with children, and the wonderful care of Kendal staff. He passed suddenly and without discomfort.
The family will hold a private service on the upper Chesapeake Bay.
Arrangements by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, in Kennett Square.
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