Father Warren J. Wright, S.J., 65, died November 19, 2012 at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center.
He had been a Jesuit for 39 years, an ordained priest for 30 years.
Warren was born on January 9, 1947 in Los Angeles, the only child of Jack and Bernice Wright. His early life and all his schooling took place in Los Angeles: Cathedral Chapel Grammar School, Loyola High School (Class of ’64), and Loyola University (B.A., History, 1968). He spent four years in the Air Force, including work as an Intelligence Specialist at Fort Meade, MD, analyzing Hungarian air-ground communications.
He entered the Jesuit novitiate at Santa Barbara on September 7, 1973. After two years of spiritual training, he studied philosophy at Gonzaga University, Spokane, 1975-76. He taught history and served as dorm prefect of resident students at Bellarmine College Prep, 1976-79, then made theological studies at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. He was ordained a priest in Los Angeles on June 19, 1982.
Warren served as Associate Pastor at St. Ignatius Loyola parish, Sacramento, 1983-85, and St. Francis Xavier parish, Phoenix, 1986-87. He taught history and religion at Brophy College Prep, Phoenix, 1987-90, and returned to parish work at St. Francis Xavier, 1991-96. He was then assigned to St. Ignatius College Prep, San Francisco, where he taught religious studies and served as Assistant Dean of Students. Failing health brought him to Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, Los Gatos, in 2011.
Warren was greatly esteemed by colleagues as a hardworking, conscientious and compassionate priest, who was clear-sighted and perceptive, with a self-deprecating sense of humor. He coped admirably with years of suffering from diabetes and renal failure. A recent immobilization due to knee surgery led to his peaceful decision to forgo his regimen of thrice weekly dialysis.
Funeral services: Mass of Christian Burial: Tuesday, November 27, 2012, 10:00 a.m., Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, 300 College Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030, with inurnment immediately following at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, 490 Lincoln Street, Santa Clara, CA 95050.
Donations in memory of Father Wright may be made to the California Province of the Society of Jesus, P.O. Box 68, Los Gatos, CA 95031 or to a charity of your choice.
