Obituary of John J Wright

John James Wright, a retired New England Telephone employee and avid skier passed away on Monday morning, November 13, 2017. He was 91 years old. John was born in Malden. He was one of seven children born to Nathaniel and Alice Wright. He grew up in the Maplewood section of Malden and was a graduate of Malden High School. He enlisted in the Navy at age 17 to fight in World War II. He served as a gunner on the USS Smartt, which was a destroyer escort. The USS Smartt escorted numerous convoys across the Northern Atlantic during the war defending ships from enemy submarine and aircrafts. He served for 3 1/2 years and was the recipient of the American Area Medal, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victor Medal, and European African Middle Eastern Area with 1 Bronze Star. After returning from the war, John worked for New England Telephone as a repairman, installer, and lineman for 37 years. He settled in Burlington in 1958. John was someone who never thought about getting old. Skiing was a very big part of his life. He was a charter member of the Massa Schussers Ski Club. He met his wife, Helen, while on a ski trip with the club and they married in in 1954. He skied well into his 80’s. Over the years, he was also a member of the Boston Hill Ski Club where he was a ski instructor and occasionally raced. He was a member of the 70 Plus Club member at Wachusett Ski Resort. He shared his passion for skiing with his entire family. Winter weekends were often spent at the Massa Schussers’ Ski Lodge in Glenn, New Hampshire. He developed lifelong friendships with all his ski buddies. John’s home was the gathering spot for all the neighborhood kids. It was where the kids were first introduced to gymnastics. He built his own trampoline and trapeze. He would teach kids to do flips and all sorts of tricks. He would harness the kids in and gave them guidance and confidence to learn all the gymnastic moves. Not only could he teach the moves, he could do it himself. His favorite game was “Add a Trick”. It was a bit like basketball’s game, “Horse”. Each person would add a trick on the trampoline which must then be copied. He was the King of the game and hardly ever lost. When he was the kids, it was difficult to figure out who was the adult. In his 70’s he was demonstrating and teaching his grandson how to do backflips off the back porch!! John was always on the go. He would run, weight lift, and exercise regularly. He was using his recumbent bike up until 2 weeks ago. He enjoyed fishing and canoeing. He taught himself how to play the piano and guitar. He made lasting memories for his family at Half Moon Lake in Alton. It has been the place the Wrights have gathered for 4 generations. They would swim, boat, compete, and grow closer as a family. Cribbage was a family sport. John embraced life and made life an adventure. When his family and friends remember John and all his frolics and antics, they shake their head in disbelief, chuckle and smile! John was the beloved husband of 62 years of Helen (Keane) Wright. He was the loving and fun father of Maureen Viglielmo & her husband Jeffrey of Woodstock, NY, Patricia Munsey & her husband John of Burnt Hills, NY, John J. Wright, Jr. & his wife Joanne of Wells, ME, Sheila Cunniff & her husband Paul of Billerica, Tammy Munsey & her husband David of Ballston Lake, NY, and Timothy Wright & his wife Janet of Wells, ME. He was the brother of the late Evelyn Mullaney, Josephine, Nathaniel “Buddy”, Alice, Thomas, and Frank Wright. He was the proud grandfather of Kealey & Kaitlana Viglielmo, Kara, John & his wife Eileen, Max, Nora, Cameron & Maria Munsey, Nicole, Nathaniel, Micaela & T. J. Wright, Melissa Cunniff & her partner Brad Jenkins & Erin O’Brien & her fiancé Matt Mayfield and great grandfather of Jeremy Jenkins and Alana Munsey. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in John’s name may be made to Saint Anne’s Shrine, 92 Annes Road, Isle La Motte, VT 05463