R. Donald "Don" Wright

R. Donald (Don) Wright lately of Yardley, PA passed away peacefully on April 26, 2020 at 89 years of age.  He is survived by Simona, his loving wife of 31 years. In addition, he is survived by his eight children from his previous marriage to Margaret McPherson: Robert Wright (Valerie), Christopher Wright (Frances), David Wright, Margaret Connor (James), Theresa Marie, Timothy Wright (Nancy), Mary Beth Lopresti (John), and Kathleen Jack (William).  He was predeceased by his parents Albert and Lucy Wright and his brothers Albert Wright, John Wright, and Charles Wright and sister Alberta Smith.  Don had 24 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Don was born on October 31, 1930 in Syracuse, NY, and grew up in Sherrill, NY, a town with a rich historical connection to the utopian Oneida Community which evolved into the Oneida Silverworks.  His parents met at a dance at the Oneida Community Mansion House.  Don was only 13 when his father died tragically in a military plane crash in upstate New York, in 1944.   He worked from an early age to help his widowed mother Lucy.  Don would recall setting the bowling pins in the bowling alley before it was automated and lighting the gas street lamps of Sherrill, riding his own horse (Don had a lifelong love of horses).  Later on he worked in a psychiatric hospital to help pay for his college education at LeMoyne College in Syracuse.  Upon graduation, in 1953, he completed Officer Training School in Newport, Rhode Island and was commissioned as a Lt. J.G. in the US Navy serving on the destroyer USS Ross as a legal officer.

Released from the Navy in 1956, he began his 53 year in career in education as a 5th grade teacher in Deptford, NJ, and within a few years moved into administration, quickly becoming  a high school principal. In 1963 while pursuing his advanced  degrees at night at Rutgers University, he accepted a position as Associate Professor at Trenton State College (now known as The College of New Jersey).  Upon completion of his doctorate degree (Ed.D) in 1965, he became a Professor of Educational Administration and Secondary Education.  He was an early advocate of the use of computer technology in secondary and college level education, which had been the focus of his doctoral dissertation.  He taught courses in school curriculum and designed the first technology course in educational administration.  His tenure at TCNJ lasted 46 years until he retired in 2009.

Don and Simona resided in Bucks County, PA for many years.  They enjoyed travel and spent many summers near Treviso, Italy at their second home.  They traveled extensively to France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Greece, Portugal, and Spain.  During his retirement one of his great joys was to spend hours at the local Barnes and Noble bookstore where he would meet up with friends, family and former students.

Don will be lovingly missed by Simona, along with the rest of his family and those who had the privilege to know him.

Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) in lieu of flowers.