Randall Sinclair Wright

1953 ~ 2022

Randall Sinclair Wright passed away on February 18, 2022, in Salt Lake City, Utah of natural causes. Randy was born to Darrel Kent Wright and Virginia (Jinny) Wright in Salt Lake City on March 10, 1953. His death followed the passing of his mother and father, his sister, Shawna, and his brother, Alan. Tragically, Shawna, Alan and Randy all died within the span of just over seven months. Randy is survived by his sisters, Shari Knighton (Calvin Clark) and Tricia E. Wright, and his daughter, Allison.

Randy was well-known among many classmates during his years at Skyline High, graduating in 1971. At Skyline he excelled on the debate team, enjoyed participation in the French Club and contributed his time and talent while on the staff of The Satorian, Skyline’s literary magazine. His keen intelligence (possibly Mensa-level I.Q.) and riveting (if not excruciating) attention to detail was legendary. Randy went on to achieve a B.A. in English at the University of Utah and logged many hours in post-graduate studies. Randy’s critical thinking and ever-inquisitive mind kept him engaged studying history and politics, among other topics. He could easily debate the merits of his point of view on most anything, but kept an open mind to consider other perspectives. William F. Buckley was his idol in high school, but in his later years felt more aligned with the political left (“I think I’ll email Rachel Maddow and see if she is interested in picking up this story”). Randy abhorred extremists on either end of the political spectrum. In his youth he considered himself an atheist (“It was a nightmare passing the Board of Review to receive my Eagle Scout award”), but believed in God for decades later in life until his passing. His open mind permitted him to reconsider the validity of his positions frequently, and make mid-course corrections as necessary.

Randy’s diverse avocations included reading, fly-fishing, playing bridge (he was a Life Master), fish-keeping and raising what he called “some eccentric critters;” vocation-wise, he found driving a cab for most of his adult years to be fulfilling, frequently offering to drive inebriated friends and strangers home at no charge. Randy was never ashamed to acknowledge his past struggles with alcohol and took pride in staying clean and sober for the last 41 and 1/2 years of his life. He stayed in touch with, or made a point of reconnecting with, many of his longtime friends, including those he first met in elementary school. He acknowledged that he “inadvertently became a matchmaker” a few years ago when, while fishing with his best friend from his days at Morningside Elementary, he casually suggested that his friend should renew contact with his sister, Shari; his best friend from yesteryear is now his brother-in-law.

Few could turn a phrase quite like Randy. Email exchanges with a friend over several years provide a few examples. After overcoming a series of challenges in life (and Randy more than his fair share), he wrote, “I think I got most of the swamp drained right now and the alligators and cottonmouths are cowering in one corner as well as the feral Reticulated and Burmese pythons...Okay, that's a metaphor.” On the topic of taking a break from following drama along the political divide: “Quitting politics is tougher than whisky.” On criticizing those who divorce and remarry: “But not having ever made it that far myself, I'm not inclined to toss brickbats.” On friendships with an historian, a political cartoonist, a humor columnist, a renowned geneticist and others: “I've been privileged to walk with giants, and they have helped me find my voice.” On other topics: “We're still in the Bronze Age of mental health treatment.”/“Those of us who can't are happy to tell those who can to have a drink for us.”/“As far as this crisis goes, the 12-Step cliché is ‘This, too, shall pass.’”

No services are planned at this time, but Randy's favorite charities are Alcoholics Anonymous and the American Diabetes Association should you care to donate.


Guestbook/Condolences

Since Elementary School Randy and I have had a friendship. As kids we fist fought and made up and argued and schemed all kinds of ideas. You were a crazy arm chair philosopher with a cleaver intellect. You could weave and knit an idea as you zigged and zagged through a lofty ethereal dimension that few us could keep up with. I enjoyed your explorations. Enjoy the beginning of your eternal sojourn and may the Spirit world be kind to you.
May your sisters and Clark fill their hearts with the good times.
Ron Beck


- Ron Beck