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Mary Ellen Wright - Class of 1974

Submitted by Fran Olson Gustafson 1965 <fgustafson917@gmail.com> on 26/Feb/2021
174.17.159.57

    Mary Ellen Wright, beloved wife, sister, daughter, aunt, cousin and friend lost her 3-year battle with lung cancer on February 25, 2021 at the age of 64. Mary Ellen was born on December 14, 1956 to Dora and the late Jim Wright. Mary Ellen was a lifelong resident of New Windsor, NY. She graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in 1974.

Mary Ellen generously served her community her entire life in many ways both in time and financial assistance. As a teenager she helped pioneer a group called the Area Youth for Retarded Children in which high school students volunteered to assist children with special needs. On the weekends she had the privilege of working for AHRC in the first group home in the area. Mary Ellen also followed in the footsteps of her remarkable mother by serving on many community boards and civic groups.

Mary Ellen was also one of the first female members of the Vails Gate Fire Department and was also an active riding member of the City of Newburgh and Town of New Windsor Volunteer Ambulance Corp. She obtained her license as a registered nurse in 1979 and began working in local hospitals in the Hudson Valley predominantly in the area of emergency care and trauma. Her care and compassion shined through to every patient that came through the doors. She was appointed to the office of Orange County Coroner to fulfill a vacancy and subsequently ran for election and was elected to a four-year term. During this time frame she was also accepted and attended Pace University School of Law while working full time as a nurse and was admitted into the New York bar.

She then had a successful career as an attorney for 25 years handling many complex matters until her illness forced her into retirement. She lived a full life but had many plans to immerse herself back into the community after retirement. Mary Ellen’s work ethic was hard to keep up with, her philosophy was always do more than was expected.

Mary Ellen enjoyed many summers at the Jersey Shore and Cape Cod with her family and also loved spending time at the Newburgh Yacht Club with her husband on their boat and jet skiing on the Hudson River. She was a member of the Hudson Valley Tole and Decorative Painting group and recently served as co-president. She was the best host around, planning and hosting many dinner parties and picnics at their home in New Windsor and events at the Newburgh Yacht Club. She also began a weekly pot luck dinner at the Yacht Club that was a nice way to meet with friends during the week. In her spare time, she enjoyed tending to her many gardens and the art of decorative painting with a wonderful group of friends and shared that passion teaching introductory painting classes at the Desmond House (MSMC).

Mary Ellen was an advocate for everyone, if you needed advice, guidance or someone to listen to your concerns she was the person you wanted in your corner. Her love and devotion to her family, her friends, neighbors and community was stellar. She was the type of person we need more of in our lives. Mary Ellen asks that you honor her memory by giving back to your community, being a good neighbor and friend and taking care of those you love.

Mary Ellen leaves behind to mourn her, her loving husband Jack St. John, who was her best friend and truly her own personal saint, her mother Dora Wright, her very special sister Carol Ann, her nephews James and Jordan Wright, her cousins Kathy (Tony) Fabrizio and Nancy (Fred) Stelling and their children, brother-in-law Gary (Jean) St. John, sister-in-law Jill Cullen (Jim) and their families as well as many good friends and former coworkers. She was predeceased by her father James C. Wright and her brother Gregg and his wife Hillary Wright.

The family asks that if you are so inclined, you may make a donation in Mary Ellen’s memory to the Lustgarten Foundation, Lungevity Foundation or Calvary Presbyterian Church. The family wishes to thank the staff and Dr. Charles Rudin at Sloan Kettering Hospital for doing everything possible to extend her life. - December 14, 1956 - February 25, 2021