Francis Wright Sr. M.D.

1928 - 2018

BORN

1928

DIED

2018

About

Ohio State University

Francis Wright Obituary

WRIGHT, Sr., Francis McGill, M.D. Nov. 7, 1928 Dec. 30, 2018 Frank passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by loved ones. He is survived by his sister Pat McDuffie and children, Francis Jr, David, Nancy, Andrew, and Miles. Frank received his medical degree at The Ohio State University where he met his future wife, Mary Margaret Todd (Petie) an operating room nurse at the time. He and Petie were devoted Chautauquans, taking over Petie's sister Prudence and Tom Moffet's cottage at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. He spent a year with Petie and son Miles working in Warrnambool Australia (Brierly Mental Hospital). After retirement, they moved to Walnut Creek, CA to live next to their son Gill and his family, but always returned each summer for the Chautauqua summer season and the beloved family cottage. Frank was a ship and train buff. Early in life he was in fact a mariner on the 650ft Philip R. Clark Great Lakes steamship. In retirement he volunteered to restore The Glacier and Red Oak Victory ships in the San Francisco Bay Area. As an avid sailor, he often took the family to Crystal Lake, Michigan many summers. He loved to sing old folk songs on family trips and to put his children to sleep at night. He taught all of his children and many others to ski including family vacations to Boyne Mountain and many visits to Sugar Creek Ski Hills in Dayton. He took up running in his 40s continuing until age 85. He had a lifelong thirst for knowledge and could often be found reading in his favorite recliner. Frank was a big music lover and frequently attended Nancy's concerts in the Bay Area. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in the honor of Frank Wright to: Hospice of the East Bay, 3470 Buskirk Ave., Pleasant Hill, CA 95423. Celebration of Life for both Frank and Petie will be held in Dayton February 16, 2019. RSVP: [email protected].

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Published by Dayton Daily News on Jan. 13, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Francis Wright

5 Entries

Mark Gage

April 21, 2024

He was like my big brother

Bryan E StJohn

August 17, 2023

Dr Wright was My Therapist at DCPH in the early 80s
He was a wonderful man
I recall his humor we talked alot about his being from Glascow

He really helped me a lot even as years went by after he was my therapist I would call him

I asked for therapy as an adult as a joke because I knew he was good but also expensive He told me that he charged 150 an hour at that point

LOL i hung up on him

But I called him back right way..it was a joke

He was a great influence on my mental health

Jeanie Master

May 29, 2021

Omg how strange this is. Out of nowhere this morning, Frank came to mind. I knew he'd moved to California but that was all. Typed his name into Google, and here I am. Frank and I worked together in several venues, St. Joseph's & Eastway for two. I am a psychiatric nurse and thought so highly of him. I remember a couple of funny/ interesting incidents with him. One morning he came onto the CSU (Crisis Stabilization Unit), I was there, he was carrying a little paper sack ( his lunch). He was known to do this daily. That morning, it just brought out the humor in me. I asked if he knew how the Gran Canyon was formed. He looked at me kind of strongly, wierd question at 6AM...I told him it happened when a Scotsman dropped a nickel...we had a good laugh! I also remember him telling me one morning how the night before he'd been having a Scotch and looking at a magazine when up popped an add for Cutty Sark. He thought the ship was so beautiful. He said he began to wonder who owned it ( so maybe he could contact them and go to see it) . He had no idea but in typical Frank fashion, he pondered it until it hit him, I dont know who owns it but I bet I know who insures it! He contacted Lloyd's of London, sure enough. They got ahold of the owners for him and the rest is history. I miss him so much. I was in awe of his kindness and care for his patients as well. He told a very frightened patient in Dayton forensic once that if he would take his lithium ( a med he desperately needed) that he would take it with him each morning. It astonished me, he told me it wouldn't harm him...again, history....
Goodbye Frank. I know you were an agnostic..but I believe I know where you are. You were such a kind, wonderful man.

Ann Gilfoyle

February 2, 2019

I knew Dr Wright during my years at St Joseph Children's Treatment Center. I've always remembered him fondly and with respect. I learned a great deal from him. I always felt comfortable sharing my thoughts with him and enjoyed hearing his remarkable insight to the children. My thoughts are with his family.

Jeannie Strausburg

January 22, 2019

I worked with Dr. Wright at St. Joseph's for about 10 years. I respected him and he taught me SO much about medications, diagnosis and even the meaning of dreams. He was one of the psychiatrists willing to share his knowledge and who respected the therapists who worked there. My sincere condolences to his family. Jeannie Strausburg

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