Doris B. Wright, of Rochester, NY, died peacefully on September 19, 2019 at the age of 93, after a brief illness, surrounded by her family.
Doris was born in 1926 and grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1946, at the age of 20, she and her sister Pat set out on the adventure of a lifetime, moving to New York City to make a new life as an artist (Doris) and actress (Pat). Doris attended the Art Students’ League in Manhattan and, following that, she worked as a professional fashion illustrator. In 1954, she married Rayburn B. Wright, a professional musician then working as the co-musical director of the Radio City Musical Hall, whom she met through one of her close friends. They lived in Manhattan for about 5 years, during which time her two sons, Drew and David, were born, in 1955 and 1959, respectively. During those years, Doris also began studying the classical guitar with renowned Cuban classical guitarist Rolando Valdés-Blain.
In 1960, Doris and Ray moved to Croton-on-Hudson, NY to a house they built in the countryside. There they raised their two sons, and Doris eventually returned to work as an illustrator at The Patent Trader newspaper in Westchester County. They moved to Pittsford, NY in 1970, following Ray’s appointment as Director of the Jazz and Contemporary Media department at the Eastman School of Music. There they lived an active and happy life, full of art, music, sailing and friends, until 1990, when Ray passed away. Doris later shared 14 happy years with Dr. Gerry Glaser, whom she met through a mutual friend at the Unitarian Church, through his death in 2006. In 2014, Doris moved to the Brickstone apartments on Elmwood Ave, where she lived through the present, developing many close friends.
Doris was a lifelong artist working in dozens of media, including oil, watercolor, wood block, silkscreen, calligraphy, pastels, collage, photography, computer art, and acrylics. She was also a world traveler, taking dozens of trips around the U.S. and the world with Ray, Gerry, Pat, various groups of friends, and with her sons and their families. She was also an inveterate gardener, maintaining a garden everywhere she lived, even on her balcony at Brickstone. Over the years in Rochester, Doris was an active volunteer at numerous organizations, including at the Rochester Unitarian Church, where she was on the art committee, was the editor of the newsletter, and arranged flowers; at the Memorial Art Gallery, where she worked in the gift shop; and at F.I.S.H, for which she drove elderly and disabled passengers.
Doris is survived by her two sons Drew Wright and his wife Carol Ott; and David Wright, his wife Pamela Wright and their son Dustin Wright and daughter Ashley Wright; by her nephews Jerry Swift, his wife Princess, daughter Melissa and step-daughters Vidya and Niesha; and Nick Swift, his wife Lori, their sons Nick and Mike, and Mike’s wife Allison and their daughter Ella; by Gerry’s son John Glaser, his wife Cindy Winski and their daughter Jenna and son Matthew; and by her beloved cat of 19 years, Lily. She was predeceased by her husband Rayburn Wright, her companion Gerry Glaser, Gerry’s daughter Beth, and her sister Pat Swift. She leaves behind many dear friends from throughout her life, including from the Unitarian Church; the Eastman School of Music; several art groups and organizations; and every place she has ever lived, especially Brickstone, where she formed strong relationships.
A memorial service will be scheduled in the coming weeks. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the Eastman School of Music, noting “Ray Wright Fund, in memory of Doris Wright” on the check memo line, and mailed to the following address: Eastman School of Music, Office of Advancement, 26 Gibbs Street, Rochester, NY 14604.
Doris / Mom / Grandma / Aunt Doris will be forever in our hearts.