NORWICH – James W. Wright, of Norwich, passed away after an illness the morning of March 3, 2009. He was 71.
Jim is survived by his wife of 39 years, Janice Kenyon Wright; by four daughters: Nicki Conroy of the Town of Union; Bety Lynne Wright of Somerset, N.J., Wendy Sue Wright and David Burdick of Norwich, and Jamie Lynn Moore and husband Gary of Norwich; and nine grandchildren: Edwin, Andrew, Elise, Susan, Benjamin, and Daniel Conroy, Logan and Noah Bufalini, and Dustin Moore. He is also survived by his sister, Kathryn Vona; and was predeceased by his parents, James Lowell Wright and Katherine Greene Wright.
Born in March of 1938, in Sayre, Pa., Jim lived in Hornell until moving to Owego in the mid-1940s. He attended Owego Free Academy and was a member of the graduating class of 1956. While attending school, he served as a full-time sports reporter for the Owego Times and Gazette. Upon graduation, Jim attended Temple University and wrote sports for the Temple Owl. He left school to become the sports editor of the now defunct Endicott Daily Bulletin. Shortly after becoming the Tioga County Bureau Chief for the Endicott Daily Bulletin, Jim was greeted by the now infamous Apalachin Gangland Convention at the Joseph Barbara estate. He covered the trials of many arrested, including Joseph Buffalino.
Jim served as a disc jockey, news director, and play-by-play sports commentator for WEBO in Owego. After working as an interim Tioga County Bureau Chief for the Binghamton Press, Jim left Owego to become the Chenango County Bureau Chief, headquartered in Norwich, on July 11, 1966. He covered all aspects of news including courts in Chenango and Delaware counties and parts of Madison and Cortland counties until the early 2000s when the bureau was closed. At that time, Jim was shifted to the main office in Broome County to cover police and fire beats and serve as a secondary courts reporter. During his forty years of exclusively covering Chenango County, Jim covered scores of murder trials, including the Cynthia Raymond trial in Greene. In November of 1995, he received the Press and Sun Bulletin Employee of the Month award for his years of dedication and service.
On May 2, 2008, Jim was honored by the Chenango County Bar Association for his contributions to reporting in the courts. He received the 2008 Liberty Bell Award at the Law Day Celebration on May 2, at the courthouse where he covered many trials. State Senator Thomas W. Libous declared that day “Jim Wright Day” in honor of his services.
Along with his reporting, Jim was an avid volunteer in the fire service, both in Chenango and Tioga counties and statewide. He served as the Norwich Fire Department’s treasurer, secretary, and vice president, and was a 53-plus-year volunteer firefighter, many of those years with the George Rider Hook and Ladder Co. of the Norwich Fire Dept. He was also a Chenango County Deputy Fire Coordinator from 1976 until his retirement from that position in 2006. He was the secretary of the Chenango County Fire Chiefs Association at its inception, and served as secretary of the Chenango County Firemen’s Association for ten years. In 2003, Jim was named Norwich Firefighter of the Year. He was also presented with the Chenango County Fire Coordinators’ coveted Howard Bartlett Award, on May 31, 1998, for meritorious service to the fire service.
Jim had served as secretary to the New York State Fire Safety Educators’ Association, having held the position for more than ten years. He was also on the New York State Fire Chiefs’ Public Education Committee, serving several years as chairman.
Jim was currently in his second five-year term representing the Central New York Firemen’s Association as trustee at the Firemen’s Home in Hudson. During his first term, he served as secretary of the Board of Trustees. At his death, Jim was serving a two-year term as president of the Board of Trustees. He was also currently one of the directors of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York’s Museum of Firefighting.
Jim enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and attending sporting events from Syracuse University football to Binghamton University basketball, to Binghamton Senators hockey.
Funeral services for Jim will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday from the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Norwich. The Rev. Wayne Jagow. chaplain of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, will officiate.
Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home in Norwich on Thursday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. and again on Friday from 1 to 3 and 7 to 9 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jim’s honor to The Firemen’s Home of the State of New York, 125 Harry Howard Avenue, Hudson, NY 12534.