Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
Christopher Wright Obituary
Christopher A. Wright, Ph.D., age 58, died peacefully on January 29, 2020. Son of Frederick and Margaret, was preceded in death by his father, mother and daughter Patricia. He is survived by his daughter Anna, fiancée Jacque, sister Julia (Martin), brother Fred (Pat), and nephews/nieces Nicholas, Thomas, Matthew, Allison and Evelyn.
He received a Ph.D. in Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences from Michigan State University, and a B.S. in Psychology from Northern Michigan University. He built and served as President of Easygrow Mushrooms and Composting LLC.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Christopher Wright
Lilly Lipski Bonetti
November 16, 2022
So sad to read of Chris' passing. He will reside in our happy memories of NMU. Glen and Lilly Bonetti
Sandra Walker
April 23, 2021
Chris Wright was a selfless person. I only knew him through the wild mushroom certification program but witnessed his caring nature. He was instrumental in the inception process for the program and gave his all to ensure it's success. Chris will be missed.
Sandra Walker, Retired Program Mgr. MDARD
Joel Stoner
March 27, 2021
Man ...all i can say is i love you for who you are and your passion for what you loved most...my heart hurts i know your living on....love you chris you taught me so much . Thank You. Joel Stoner
TIMOTHY MCGEE
October 3, 2020
Chris Wright, your gentle nature and kind mentoring will never be forgotten.
How you can show support
Follow
Get email updates whenever changes are made.
Send flowers
Consider sending flowers.
Add photos
Share their life with photo memories.
Plant trees
Honor them by planting trees in their memory.
Donate in Memory
Make a donation in memory of your loved one.
Share this page
Invite other friends and family to visit the page.
Joe Luoma
April 20, 2020
Chris was a very funny man and very kind he had a wealth of knowledge that he was happy to share with anybody who would listen when I took his class in field he still took me aside to make sure I understood all the questions and the correct answers and then invited me out for a beer afterwards. Rest In Peace My friend
Christopher Williams
February 23, 2020
When I first met Chris at the Ann Arbor farmers market we were ostensibly competitors. He was the real mycologist and established business man, I was the self taught kid, hacking together a mushroom farm through sheer force of will. Even so he was so friendly and open with me that we became good friends, and through all the knowledge and experience he shared I came to consider him a valuable mentor.
He never told me so directly, but I have always suspected his organization of the mushroom certification program was done in some way for my benefit: he knew we had made the transition from mushroom cultivation to dealing with wild mushrooms, and being self taught, I would have a hard time becoming certified, and was in fact operating outside the law by not being certified. I credit his work in helping me get the certification for my very livelihood.
I couldn't say I was Chris' closest friend, but I always knew I could count on him for advice and support. The loss of Chris is indeed a loss to the whole mushroom community, as much as it is to his family and friends. I hope that someone reading this though can take solace in knowing that his knowledge and good works live on through those he blessed them with, and he will be sincerely missed and not soon forgotten.
Chris directing making mushroom kits at the Chippewa tribe
Sister Marie Kopin, C.PP.S., Ph.D.
February 17, 2020
I've known Chris since the 1980's when I met him making mushroom kits for participants of the Michigan Mushroom Hunters Club at one of our annual "Fungus Fest" Fall weekends. Since then he always supplied me with mushroom kits to use in teaching others about mycology, and then we began to teach together, working with the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe in the Mt. Pleasant/Isabella County area. I know he loved the science of mycology very much and was dedicated to promote it enough to get a Ph.D. and open his own business, and then to create MAMI, Midwest American Mycological Information project to train "expert" Identifiers of some 20 fairly easy to ID edible Michigan mushrooms foraged in the wild, to ID and then to sell them so consumers would purchasing mushrooms from the wild would be safe. I found him to volunteer a lot for our Michigan Mushroom Hunting Club to give presentations and to lead "mushroom kit" programs so we would take home something to grow our own mushrooms at home. He will be missed a lot, both at the Michigan Club and NAMA, national American Mycology Association and already is as we were going to do an all-day workshop together at the Chippewa Nation's Center in Mt. Pleasant, MI, on growing mushrooms and learning about mycelium on February 22, 2020. He recently was named head of NAMA's Cultivation Committee. Hopefully we will be contacted about where and when for the "Celebration of Life" service.
Carey G
February 10, 2020
I'm sure I'm not the only Michigander who appreciated all the work Chris did to further mycology and knowledge of mushrooms in our state. Thank you for a lifetime of good works.
February 8, 2020
Chris and I roomed together on a few different occasions while at NMU. There was a time when we were pretty much inseparable among a core crowd of best friends. You know who you are, Tom, Thomkat and Bob.
He was maybe one of the naturally smartest people I have ever met. One of those guys everyone envied, because he could be out goofing off and partying til dawn and ace his 8am chemistry exam.
Chris was a musician, a rocker, a writer, a math and science whiz and a eventually a scientist and a mentor. He had a great sense of humor and a deadly right hook. Whether sexing fruit flies in his undergrad lab, touring the country as a mycologist, or playing a hand of Euchre, when Chris was into something, he was all in.
We had a parting of ways several years ago, and I am thankful we got to hang out a little last year. Water under the bridge, we were cool again. I am beyond thankful and lucky it worked out this way.
Sweet dreams, old friend. You were one of a kind.
Tom Picker
February 8, 2020
Rest In Peace Chris.
Richard Lenski
February 7, 2020
Chris was a student in a course that I taught at MSU. He was always thoughtful, always interested. And he always had a kind word. He will be missed.
Mike Levine
February 6, 2020
Thanks for being a such an incredible mentor and friend. Your many examples of generosity, kindness, and service to your community will continue to help guide us. I'm going to miss you. Rest in peace, Chris.
Jacque Shoppell
February 2, 2020
Never will be forgotten. Until death did we part. ❣
Showing 1 - 13 of 13 results
Make a Donation
in Christopher Wright's name
Memorial Events
for Christopher Wright
People and places connected with Christopher
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
How to support Christopher's loved ones
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreWays to honor Christopher Wright's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
