A. Colin Wright

With great sadness we announce Colin’s passing on September 15th, 2023, who died at the age of of 85.  Loving and devoted husband of Mary Anne for 53 years. Proud father of Andrew (Linda) and Nicholas (Lori) and tender Grandad of Samuel, Lucy, Ayla and Lily.  

A professor and thinker, a companion and traveler, a rower and downhill skier, a dramaturge and player, a linguist and interpreter, a playwright and author, he will be remembered by family and many friends in Canada and abroad as an inquiring and thoughtful soul possessed of sweet kindness and uncommon charm.

A. Colin Wright was born in 1938 in Chelmsford, Essex, UK. Raised in the wake of World War II, he learned Russian during National Service in the Royal Air Force.  He read modern languages (French, German, and Russian) at Cambridge University, with a Ph.D. on the twentieth-century Russian novelist and playwright Mikhail Bulgakov.  In 1963 he studied at the Herzen University in St. Petersburg. He came to Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario in 1964, where he taught Russian and comparative literature for 35 years.  He had always loved travel and experiencing new cultures, and was fluent in 6 languages. Recently, he was studying Irish and Scots Gaelic.

Writing regularly until the end, he is mainly known for his plays, novels and short stories. They are delightful and moving comedies which inspired others with the joy of life. Deeply religious in a non-traditional sense, he tried to express his spiritual understanding of life through his works, and they are serious attempts to come to grips with the purpose of human existence.  He was also known for his kindness and generosity, his willingness to help and to listen to others--traits which he fought hard to cultivate because of an inner shyness.

A short Celebration of Life Service built around Colin's own writings and beliefs is to take place at TUBMAN FUNERAL HOMES – WESTBORO CHAPEL, 403 Richmond Road on Saturday, September 23rd 2023 at 2pm. Reception to follow from 3-5pm at Amica Westboro Park, 491 Richmond Road, Ottawa. For those who wish, and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Nature Conservancy of Canada.