Olen Clifford Wright Jr.

Born on September 9, 1934, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Olen Clifford Wright, Jr. (“Cliff” to his family and friends) lived a long, full life. He died March 5, 2023, at the age of 88, from metastasized cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Olen Clifford Wright, Sr. and Ruth Omega Waggoner Wright. Blessed with a devoted family, he is survived by his lovely wife who was his sweetheart for 65 years, Elizabeth “Liz” Dollard Wright, his beloved children, Marty (Cyrene), Lisa (Jim), Kristi (Dan), and Drew (Amy), his many grandchildren who filled him with delight, Matthew (Sabrina), Jason (Sharlene), Natalie (Grant), Sarah (Chris), Caroline (Paul), Xander, Blake, Finn, and finally, his great-grandchildren, Charlie and Nate (with two more great-grandchildren on the way). Also, his extended family of nieces, nephews, and cousins, who he loved very much. We will celebrate Cliff with a funeral Mass at the Carmelite Monastery in Santa Clara on March 25th at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, please consider a modest donation to one of the following organizations:

Carmelite Monastery – checks payable to Carmelite Monastery, 1000 Lincoln Street, Santa Clara, CA 95050

Cal Berkeley -- https://give.berkeley.edu/home

Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance -- https://www.curefa.org/

American Cancer Society -- https://donate.cancer.org/

Cliff grew up in Arlington, California where he was a star athlete for his high school football and track and field teams. At 6’5”, he went on to play football and rugby and compete in the shotput and discus for Cal Berkeley. Prior to his senior year, he joined the Army, serving one year at the Presidio in San Francisco and the other in Japan. While he was stationed at the Presidio, he met the love of his life, Elizabeth Dollard. Before he headed to Japan, he “pinned” her with his fraternity pin, which meant they were officially engaged. One of the last stories he told his family was about that night. As he drove back to the Presidio, he was pulled over by a traffic officer for speeding. When they asked him why he was driving so fast, he explained that he was excited because he’d just gotten engaged. They let him off with a warning.

While Cliff was overseas, he wrote Liz daily, sweet love letters, many of which he signed “Cookie”. Soon after his return, they tied the knot, on August 10, 1957 – in a double wedding for both Liz and her sister, Theresa. While Cliff finished up his Mechanical Engineering degree at Cal, Liz set aside her elementary school teaching to become a stay-at-home mom. Two of four children arrived during Cliff’s college years, another arrived while Cliff was at his first job in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the final child arrived once they had settled in San Jose, California in 1963. Cliff’s distinguished career was mostly in solid rocket technology at United Technologies Corporation (which recently merged with Raytheon to create Raytheon Technologies.) His children were very excited and proud when they could look up into the sky from their neighborhood and see the unmanned Titan rockets he had designed being tested.

Always an athlete, Cliff kept to a rigorous exercise regimen throughout his life. At one time he could bench press nearly 400 pounds and power squat close to 500. He inspired all his children to become athletes, cheered them on at cross country meets, coached them in track and field, and was proud of them whether they won or lost. Cliff would jog around the park with his children when they were young. His eldest daughter remembers needing to take two steps for every one of his long strides. The kids also grew up taking Sunday walks and hikes with Cliff. His children were deeply proud of their dad for his athletic prowess, his healthy habits, and his fighting spirit. He sailed through his fight with rectal cancer in 2019 at the age of 84 because of his healthy routine. He drove himself to his radiation treatments, and no one could keep up with him at the hospital when he walked the halls after surgery. It was only in the last month of his life when the cancer metastasized into his lungs and his bones that he couldn’t keep up his regimen.

Cliff and family spent as many days as they could at a family home in Stinson Beach, built by Liz’s grandparents in the late 1920s and shared by Liz and her siblings. There Cliff led the family in digging holes in the sand, building sandcastles, wading in the ocean, playing football and taking walks on the beach, and hiking among the nearby redwoods. He had a deep connection to this beautiful small town, nestled between beach and mountain, a stone’s throw away from the old-growth redwood forest, Muir Woods. Stinson brought Cliff great joy. He especially loved hanging out at the iconic Sand Dollar Restaurant there, listening to live jazz, hanging with locals, and then finishing off the night with a healthy serving of their celebrated mud pie dessert. His granddaughter remembers one night when they were at the Sand Dollar together and Senator Feinstein showed up. She recognized the senator and told “Grandpoppy” that she was a fan. He immediately went up to the legend and got her to introduce herself to his granddaughter. Besides Stinson Beach, Cliff also was a huge fan of Half Moon Bay, the Monterey Peninsula, and the Mendocino area.

A jazz aficionado, Cliff especially enjoyed Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, George Shearing, Mel Torme, Cal Tjader, Stan Getz, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Pink Martini, Ella Fitzgerald, and Diana Krall. Over the years, he and Liz went to countless jazz concerts at Paul Masson Mountain Winery in Saratoga, many with their children. Whenever Cliff’s family hears “Take Five,” they think of him. Cliff and Liz also supported the local music scene, becoming regulars at hot spots like Teriyaki and Spirits, Vintage House, The Blue Pheasant, and Mountain Charlie’s. Later, Cliff and Liz proudly attended their grandchildren’s middle school jazz band concerts. They also enjoyed attending many elementary school musical theater performances and dance recitals.

After his retirement, Cliff and Liz traveled extensively in Europe, Canada, and the East Coast. They especially loved France, which they visited many times. Cliff and Liz also became regulars at a local coffee shop, The Roasted Coffee Bean. There, they held court in the afternoons for a decade. Family always knew where to find them and often joined them there. Cliff had interesting stories to tell about his childhood, whether it was about learning to play the accordion or meeting the singing cowboys, the Sons of The Pioneers. It was a lovely time of their lives, filled with community and friendship.

Always, Cliff’s focus was on his family. He was a devoted husband for 65 years to Liz Wright and a proud and loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was a wonderful Dad, someone who was kind and funny and smart and thoughtful. Someone who built dollhouses for his daughters and a fort for his son, and who made decoupage projects with his daughter that decorated the Stinson house. Cliff and his kids often loved reading the same books and were fans of the same TV shows and movies, even in recent years. The family also had a love of cats and nothing was more endearing than seeing Darcy or later Misty sleeping on Cliff’s chest with their arms outstretched towards him. His family was so lucky to have him in their lives for so long. What a gift to have him live to 88 years of age, mostly healthy, always independent, fully alert and interested in his extended family’s lives. We will miss him very much.

Once upon a time, son Drew Wright wrote this poem about our dad. It perfectly describes our awe and love for our gentle giant:

I took a trek amongst the giants

where even the sun pays respect

dancing, beaming and glittering

highlighting these mountain lords

Resting against one and staring up

I remembered my first loving giant

I touched the rugged redwood skin

A child hand on your evening shadow

Silence - a symphony of serene sounds

the whispering water in the ravine

the crunching of the forest floor

the rustling of birds in the brush

As I continued hiking up the trail

I thought of your love for these woods

how you used to run amidst these gods

or lead us in this land of wonderment

I perceived the pureness of the air

and smelled the pine needle potpourri

Everything was so refreshing, so real

accented by the ancient odor of wood

Crossing bridges and climbing The Ladder

I was reminded of your redwood projects

how you brought the forest spirit home

through a deck, lattice work and trees

I reached a peak and witnessed the ocean

and instantly knew that you were there

as if your free spirit had never left

then I realized - you are always with me