Having served his country, my grandfather then decided it was time to go back to school and prepare for a professional education. He attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison where he majored in Speech Education and started his lifetime hobby of singing. It was also during this time that he met his wife, Vara Wright. He graduated with a Master’s Degree six years later and moved to the nearby town of Eau Claire, Wisconsin to teach eighth grade English and Speech. During this time he was also involved in directing school plays and singing in local choirs as “The Beautiful Baritone Man”. His first year teaching he was awarded the Best New Teacher Award and then the Best Teacher Award his second year.
In 1963, my grandparents moved to Alaska and settled in a small native town called Hoonah which is located just south of the famous Glacier Bay. At this time, Alaska had only been a state for four years and had virtually no formal education system. My grandfather pioneered education development in the state as a superintendent by first establishing implementing a series of new programs with native children then working with state administrators to implement these programs statewide. He also established an arts program which launched plays, music, and started the first forensics team in Hoonah.
In 1966, my grandparents once again packed up and moved. This time it was to Glenallen, Alaska. There my grandfather became the Area One Superintendent and oversaw five different schools. However his love for being directly involved in the lives of children was still very present and led him to start the Glenallen Wrestling Team as well as their first school band.
In 1969, the administrators life was starting to grow old so once again the family packed up and moved to Petersburg, Alaska where my grandfather once again became a classroom teacher. There he taught English and poetry for seven years before being asked to be the principal of the school. He agreed to the job under one condition: that he could still teach English and poetry. The administration agreed and he continued work as a principal, teacher, and play director until his retirement in 1989. During this time he was once again awarded: this time by the governor for being the Alaska Principal of the Year
Outside of the school, he also became very involved with state conservation issues, state resources, and was president of the State Arts Council. Furthermore, his incredible speaking talent made him quite well known across the state and attracted many audiences. He was friends with many governors and senators, and occasionally accompanied them to Washington, DC. His love for education pushed him to take a public position as a city councilman who was constantly advocating education policies, and he sat on the Alaska Professional Practices Board of Education.
Syd Wright always had a passion for every aspect of Alaska: the land, the people, the animals, and the culture. He lived off the land, depending on it to provide for himself, his wife, and his five children, and gave back to it as much as he could. Alaskan pride was always something that my grandfather beamed with.
In November of 1999, he sat out on the mud flats of a river with his best friend hunting ducks to bring back and share with his wife of 47 years. As his best friend scared up a flock of ducks with his skiff, he sat with my Black Labrador puppy waiting for the flock to soar overhead. The ducks flew, and three shots were heard. My grandfather’s best friend, who’s name is Bill, then returned to pick my grandfather up. When he arrived, he saw my grandfather sitting down with his shotgun in one hand, his other hand resting peacefully on my puppy, and three ducks around him. Upon his face was a the cheerful smile he was always known for, letting all around him know that upon his departure from this world he was a very happy and content man.
-- Michael Wright, American University