Brother Gregory Wright, FSC's Obituary
Brother Gregory Wright, FSC, passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2014 following a brief illness at age 86. He was a member of the De La Salle Christian Brothers of the San Francisco-New Orleans District.
He was born in New Orleans, LA on January 5, 1928, the son of the late Arthur Eugene Wright and Mary Hughes Wright. He was preceded in death by his brother Thomas Wright, his sister Catherine Wright and cousin Anne Bocskov. Brother is survived by his cousins: Mary Broome (husband Luther), Chesney Loeb (husband David), Paula Farrell (husband Sidney), Jimmy deBlanc, Renee Miller (husband Mark), Dimiter Bocskov, Randy Chauvin and his religious Brothers of the San Francisco-New Orleans District. In addition, he will be remembered by the many students and friends whose hearts he touched.
Brother Gregory entered the Junior Novitiate of the Brothers in 1941, received the religious habit on August 14, 1945 and pronounced his final vows on June 7, 1953. He ministered as a Brother for 66 years. Brother began his teaching ministry at Landry Memorial School in Lake Charles, LA and taught in other schools of the District. His days as a high school teacher came to an end when he was assigned to St. Michael’s College (College of Sante Fe) in 1958. He earned a Master of Arts degree in History in 1961 and his Ph.D. in European studies at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM in 1965. He pursued post-doctoral studies in Higher Education and Social Studies Education at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis in 1966-1967. In 1976-1977 and from 1980-1983, he enrolled in informal studies in European History in Rome, Italy while also serving as secretary to our congregations Secretary General. Of his studies in Rome he said: “It was a teachers dream come true.”
Following 30 years of teaching and doing administrative work at the College of Sante Fe, he was asked to do missionary work in the Philippines. In September of 1988, he joined the Philippine District and was assigned to De La Salle University in Manila where he served as a Visiting Professor of History, and Acting Chairman of the History Department in 1996. Having done his doctoral dissertation on St. John Baptist de la Salle, he wrote several books on the Founder, his congregation and numerous articles on Lasallian studies. He ministered in the Philippines for 21 years and then returned home in 2009 where he was assigned to De La Salle-Christian Brothers in Lafayette, LA. In 2013, he was assigned to the St. Paul’s Retirement Community in Covington, LA.
Brother Gregory will be remembered for his dedication to Christian education, commitment to the Religious Life, his encyclopedic mind and razor sharp sense of humor which kept one informed and entertained, love of classical music, love of history and he loved to eat fish. His message to students was: “Learn to speak up and assert yourselves.” His message to teachers was: “Never lose the desire to learn.”
Visitation will take place in Our Lady of Peace Chapel (St. Paul’s High School Campus), at 9AM on Saturday, August 9, 2014, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM. Burial will take place in De La Salle Cemetery, Lafayette, LA.
The Brothers are grateful for the loving staff of R and R Home Care, Hospice Compassus and the Louisiana Heart Hospital in Lacombe, LA for the wonderful care they gave Brother during his final illness.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Brother Gregory’s name may be made to the St. La Salle Auxiliary, 917 S. Jahncke Ave., Covington, LA 70433. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to E. J. Fielding Funeral Home, Covington, LA.
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