KENNEBUNK — Maine’s first hospital development (fundraising) director died Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013. C. Bruce Wright, 89, of Kennebunk, had what he called a “fun and rewarding career” in public relations beginning in 1954 as PR director for Maine Civil Defense.
He was born in Bath on May 11, 1924. His parents were Elbridge R. Wright and Florence (Bruce) Wright. He was married in 1951 to Phyllis Crowley of Norwood, MA. Their only child, Lynne, died at 18 from car accident injuries. Bruce worked at the Bath Iron Works Shipyard as a shipfitter helper and a tin shop apprentice, at Steen Company, Bath, in heating and ventilation, and at the Hyde Windlass and the Bath Post Office before his public relations career.
After a 34 years in public relations, Wright was a fulltime special assignment teacher at Triton District Junior-Senior High School, Byfield, MA for ten years. He was a substitute high school teacher in Kennebunk and Wells into his 80s. Wright liked connecting with younger generations and encouraging them to learn more about, and appreciate, their heritage. Also, in retirement, he wrote more than 40 historical Maine-related stories for “Memories of Maine” and national magazines and newspapers.
He was a 1950 journalism graduate from Boston University and continued toward an M.S. in public relations. Bruce was a member of the board of directors for New England Hospital Public Relations and a founding board member of the New England Association of Hospital Development. He was also a member of 28 professional and 70 community organizations throughout New England.
Bruce served in the U.S. Navy in World War II as an overseas Navy Seabee mail censor and attended Williams College, Williamstown, MA in the Navy Officers V-12 Training Program. Wright was a 40- plus-year member of the National Defense Executive Reserves.
He was a founder and organizer of an unique World War II veteran-to-veteran speaker programs twice a month for five years which he conducted at Northern Essex Community College, Haverhill, MA and six years weekly at the Senior Center, Kennebunk. Bruce also presented talks about his World War II experiences and other subjects at colleges, high schools and museums. He was a Massachusetts local and district school committee chairman and a 32nd degree Scottish Rites Mason. Bruce regularly attended the Baptist church.
Wright researched his genealogy three ways to the Mayflower and also through and beyond England’s King William the Conqueror. He served a term as president of the Sons and Daughters of the First Settlers of Newbury, MA and was board member and editor of the genealogy organization’s newspaper for several years.
He was a Boston Red Sox fan and enjoyed attending games with his Dad and later with his daughter, Lynne, and friends. Wright enjoyed reading, writing, American history, and researching the lives of his ancestors, especially Bath sea captains in the Golden Age of Sail. He wrote more than 100 short stories, many about his life experiences.
Bruce was predeceased by a daughter, Lynne Ellen; sister, Phyllis; brother, Elbridge R. Wright Jr.; stepsisters Jeanette Hamilton and Dorothy Hayward; niece Jean Steen Culpovich Rylander and stepbrother Owen Williams. Bruce leaves his wife, Phyllis, and niece Mary Lewis and her husband, Gary, both of Gardiner.
There will be a graveside memorial service for Bruce on May 11, 2014, at Decker Cemetery, Southport, ME. Contributions in remembrance may be made to the Lynne E. Wright Scholarship Fund, Triton High School, 112 Elm St., Byfield, MA 01922 or Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, 11 Hunnewell Road, Scarborough, ME 04074.
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