Richard M. Wright

On January 4, 2016 he gave up his three year fight with Mantle Cell Lymphoma, and as he wished, died peacefully at home in the company of his wife Anna Brandenburg-Schroeder. He is survived by sister Ruth Kathleen Smith (James) of Marshfield, MA, brothers Stephen Wright (Maia) of Saline, MI and Luke Vaughn of Antioch, CA; nieces and nephews Debbie, Nathan, and Alaura Wilfert, Brendan and Jason Wright, and six great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Ruth Vaughn Wright and Malor Alvin Wright.

Dr. Wright (PhD Molecular Genetics) was engaged in research at the Department of Medicine, CU Anschutz Campus. He was an avid rock climber who developed many climbing areas and put up new routes throughout Colorado. He was a true "purrson" whose lap will be missed by Bally (the elder), and whose playful torment missed by Gracie (the adolescent).

We gratefully acknowledge the expertise and loving care provided at University of Nebraska Medical Center, Colorado Blood Cancer Institute and Halcyon Palliative Care and Hospice.

Hospitalized for chemo in the fall and winter of 2012/2013, Richard discovered a whole new pastime – watching sports on TV. It was a good break from working on his laptop, and there were only so many times he could walk the halls with his “dancing partner,” the IV pole stand.

After the stem cell transplant in 2013, the infatuation continued. The sports section was read cover to back every morning as we took our tea by the fire in the dining room. He followed games – football and basketball – on the radio since we didn’t have a TV.

When his MCL relapsed in the summer of 2014 and we began traveling weekly by train to UNMC to participate in a drug trial, it was just in time for the Huskers football season. Richard greatly enjoyed the games with his brother-in-law, Tiger, while staying with Anna’s sister Wendy’s family during treatments in Omaha. Not to be outdone, he had to have his own new flat screen TV and of course cable, which he happily strung himself with advice from our neighbor.

When family came to visit he delighted in taking them on the light rail to the Pepsi Center, or parking with them in front of his new flat screen. And, he was always up for rousing sports banter with anyone who cared to engage.

So when we met with the representative from Olinger and the subject of “memorial service” came round, he scrunched up his face in a “NOT!” sort of way. As talk quickly turned to other options such as a picnic in a park, he brightened considerably. Richard was champion picnicker. From the early days in Fort Colllins sunset picnics at Horsetooth Reservoir, to freezing tailgate picnics on snowy roads throughout the Colorado mountains, to the wedding picnic in Mary’s Meadow below Courthouse Mountain, he was always up for a picnic.

What better way to celebrate with family, friends and colleagues than a tailgate party before the Broncos playoff game? Join us on Sunday 17 January 2016 at the Denver Botanical Gardens’ Mitchell Hall (1007 York St., Denver, CO.) Drop in for sharing memories and food (and a little football, too) between 1 and 4 PM.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to: Access Fund (AccessFund.org), Morris Animal Foundation (morrisanimalfoundation.org), and Lymphoma Research Foundation (lymphoma.org, or 115 Broadway, Suite 1301, New York, NY 10006)