J. Bradley Wright

1936 - 2015

J. Bradley Wright Age 79, died unexpectedly and peacefully in his sleep on August 21, 2015 at his home in San Anselmo, CA. Born January 12, 1936 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Jay William Wright and Emily Clawson Wright, Brad grew up on the East Coast where he played football and lacrosse for Manhasset High School, Manhasset, New York. He attended Yale University and the University of Utah where he graduated magna cum laude with a B. A. in philosophy. He was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi (philosophy) honor societies. While in Utah he met and married his wife, the former Penny Allred; they were married for what Penny describes as "56 wonderful years." Brad's early career began with TV news reporting, appearing on camera in nightly newscasts where he often interviewed state and national political candidates such as Hubert Humphrey and John F. Kennedy. He worked for KSL-TV as a writer and newscaster while pursuing his undergraduate studies at the University of Utah. During graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley, he also worked in public affairs programming at KPIX -TV. He left Berkeley to accept a job producing public affairs shows at KNXT Los Angeles. Following his work in television, Brad moved back to the Bay Area where he formed his own company, Bradley Wright Films, producing more than 20 documentary films, often in collaboration with his wife. He continued work in film post-production at Monaco Film Labs and at Colossal Pictures in San Francisco. He was a most devoted husband and father. Friends and family spoke of him as intelligent, talented, handsome, generous and warm. Brad spoke of himself as "lucky and grateful." He was a man who avoided the public spotlight (despite his work as a newscaster.) His greatest success was in the quality of his relationships. To learn more about his life, the things and the people he loved, please visit the website: http://bradley.wright.muchloved.com We invite you to post your pictures and memories of Brad. Please include pictures of yourselves as well. Brad's friends and family were his greatest treasure. He was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother David W. Wright (Jeanne). He is survived by his wife, Penny Allred Wright; a daughter Sarah C. Wright and son Thatcher Wright (Pauline); his sister, Charlotte Openshaw (Ken); his brothers J. Stephen Wright (Catherine,) Christopher W. Wright (Karen,) Timothy C. Wright (Anne). His uncle, Truman Clawson (Marilyn) and his brothers-in-law, Gordon T. Allred (Sharon) and Raymond T. Sanders (Roselena). He will be deeply missed not only by these family members but by the many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends he held dear. Two gatherings to honor Brad are planned, one in California and one in Utah, dates and details to be posted on the tribute website listed above.