Bob Wright

Wright, Bob
Robert J. Wright, a 28-year veteran of ABC Television Public Relations on the West Coast, passed away at the age of 67, May 28, 2004, at St.Vincent's Hospital in New York. Wright died of a pulmonary embolism. He served as vice president and West Coast Department Head from August 1986 until his retirement at age 55 in late 1992. Wright began his broadcast career in ABC's Hollywood mailroom in January, 1965, and moved to Public Relations in June of that year as a photo clerk. He became an apprentice publicist in October and handled such series as "Batman," "The Fugitive," "The Mod Squad" and the Academy Awards. In 1969 he began a four-year tenure as the West Coast media contact with all national and local press, based in Los Angeles. In 1973 he was named manager of Business Information, handling all business and trade requests dealing with the Company and its executives, and in 1978 was promoted to director of Public Relations, West Coast, responsible for all print publicity efforts on behalf of ABC's television movies and miniseries, including "The Day After," "North and South," "Amerika" and "War and Remembrance." He remained in that position until being named vice president. From 1989-1991 he also served as chairman of the Television Publicity Executives Committee, made up of publicity heads from all the major networks, studios and PR agencies in Los Angeles. Born in Leicester, England, Wright emigrated to the U.S. in 1948. He was a 1954 graduate of Henry Clay High School and a 1962 graduate of Transylvania University, both in Lexington, KY. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps for three years, from 1956-1959, stationed in Boeblingen, Germany for most of his tour of duty and achieving the rank of Sergeant. Since retirement from ABC, Wright had traveled extensively, with his partner to all parts of the world, sailing more than 245,000 nautical miles by cruise ship and visiting 107 countries in the process. He is survived by a sister, Molly Moore, of Lexington, KY; a niece, Alison Zemansky, of Novato, CA; a cousin, Stuart Briggs, of Newbury Berkshire, U.K.; and his lifetime partner of 39 years, Harry B. Cohen. Donations to Aid for AIDS, 8235 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 200, West Hollywood, CA 90046, are requested in lieu of flowers.