Anne R. Wright

Anne R. Wright, 98, of Wakefield, RI, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 30th. Anne was born in Providence on June 30, 1926, to her loving parents, the late Orlando and Delia (Cipolla) Renzi. She was the devoted wife of the late Cdr. Ross W. Wright for 46 years.

Anne graduated from Brown University in 1948, where she was the first woman to receive a Bachelors of Science in Engineering. Upon completing her Civil Engineering degree, she worked for the Highway and Traffic Division in Washington, DC, for 16 years, designing roads and bridges in the city.

She resigned in June 1963 as Chief of the DC Highways and Traffic Department programming division to move to Hawaii with her new husband, Ross, where he was stationed at Pearl Harbor for two years.

Following her husband’s tours of duty from Hawaii to Virginia to Newport to Washington, DC, they eventually settled in Wakefield, RI, in 1975. Anne lived in Wakefield for 50 years, raising her two daughters, Julie and Cathy. Anne worked as Business Manager at the Prout School for 14 years, from 1980 until she retired in 1994.

Anne continued to stay engaged as a Pembroke College alumna, attending Kent County Brown Alumnae Association meetings and serving in various offices until her early 90’s.

Anne was an accomplished pianist and enjoyed concerts and musicals, particularly if her granddaughters were involved.

She is survived by her daughters, Julie Anne Wright and Catherine Wright Blaney, son-in-law Christian Blaney, and granddaughters Anna Blaney, Sabrina Blaney, Whitney Thomas Toussaint, Tiffany Thomas LeGrand, and Melaney Henderson. She is pre-deceased by her husband, Ross W. Wright, and her brother Richard Renzi.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, June 9th from 4-6 pm in Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St., Wakefield, RI. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 10th at 10 am in St. Francis of Assisi Church, 114 High St., Wakefield, RI. Burial will be private.