Daniel Charles Wright Jr.

SHARON — Daniel Charles Wright Jr., 93, passed away peacefully at his home in Sharon in the early hours of Wednesday, July 28, 2021. His wife of 67 years, Ann Wright, was at his bedside, along with children and grandchildren.

Dan was born on June 8, 1928, and grew up in Springfield, Mass. He enlisted in the US Navy at the age of 17 toward the end of World War II and was trained as a Corpsman. Honorably discharged, he attended the Munson Academy in Wilbraham, Mass., on the GI Bill, and upon graduation, moved to Boston to attend the Leland Powers School of Television and Radio. 

While in Boston, in 1952 Dan was reintroduced to an acquaintance from Springfield named Mary Ann Callahan who was attending Boston University. They commenced a lifelong love story. 

They married in 1953 and settled in NYC to pursue careers in the entertainment industry. He worked in many different areas of the business, starting out as an actor in live television, and working on production crews for live TV and TV commercials. He transitioned to talent representation and worked with Ann for decades as a Theatrical Agent, a Sports Agent, representing successful athletes in the endorsement and commercials arena, and then as a Literary Agent representing screenwriters.

The essence of Dan as a person is not found in a recitation of his career achievements. Dan was an artist in his core being. He was an observer of human behavior which he strived all his life to translate primarily through his painting, and a lifestyle of do-it-yourself decorative arts, furniture refinishing, and always an appreciation of the common man. 

His salt-of-the-earth New England values informed his personal style. His aesthetic vision is everywhere evidenced in hundreds of oil paintings on canvas, watercolors, acrylic, charcoal, and pen and ink drawings. His annual hand-drawn Christmas card was a sought-after keepsake. The Sharon house is floor to ceiling Dan art. He showed his work from time to time in NYC, and more recently at the Kent Art Association, Trinity Gallery at Lime Rock, Housatonic Valley Art League, Town Hall Gallery in Sharon and the Litchfield Jazz Festival, where his popular collection of “Jazz Greats” portraits were displayed.

Dan loved his family, with particular unwavering love for Ann, which he stated loudly for all to hear every morning.

Dan was predeceased by son Patrick Xavier Wright of Ridgefield, Conn. 

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Wright of Sharon; his children, Christopher Wright of Los Angeles, Calif., Susan Wright of Sharon, and Michael Wright of Sandy Hook, Conn.; his daughters-in-law, Laurie Ledoux Wright of Sandy Hook and Holly Powell-Wright of Paso Robles, Calif.; and his grandchildren in order of age, Ryan Wright of Menlo Park, Calif., Nicholas Tripodi of Canaan, Alex Tripodi of Sharon and Jerusha Wright of Sandy Hook.

Family visitation hours will be held at the Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon on Thursday, Aug. 12, from 3 to 5 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Ridgefield on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 10 a.m.

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