Joseph T. Wright

Joseph T. Wright of Holyoke, MA passed away peacefully April 24, 2022, with his loving family in the home where they shared their life together.

Born October 24, 1929 in Rochester, NH, he was the son of Joseph T. and Catharine (Friel) Wright. Following service in the U.S. Air Force, Joe graduated from Holyoke Community College in 1954, Boston University in 1956, and earned his MBA from American International College in 1970. At HCC he met the love of his life Angela (Cataldo); they married and raised three children, Jo-Ann, Lynnie, and Joe III in the home they built in Holyoke in 1959.

In 1956 Joe started his career as Senior Vice President of Food Mart, Inc. later Waldbaum’s Foodmart, headquartered in Holyoke. He oversaw construction and growth of the supermarket chain to more than 40 stores in Western Mass. and Connecticut, until his retirement in 1991.

Over the years Joe was involved in and had leadership roles in too many civic and community organizations to list. Most important to him were his longtime efforts on behalf of Holyoke Medical Center, Holyoke Community College, and Blessed Sacrament School.

Joe was a loving, devoted husband to Angie, and together they shared a life of travel and adventure, made countless lifelong friends, and worked for decades as a tireless duo on behalf of their community. He was committed to making life fun for everyone around him, and found time for the numerous interests and hobbies he continuously shared, including music and dancing, tomato planting, mushroom hunting, stained glass, the Red Sox, and his beloved dog Jilly. He and Angie built the family home in 1959 and lived there all their lives, and Joe made the backyard pool and cabana a sanctuary and party spot where endless fun memories were made.

He was a generous, supportive, and steadfast father to Jo-Ann (Dr. David Longworth), Lynnie, and Joe (Lora), and a kind and wonderful Grampy to Evan, Andrea, Grace (Daniel Jennis), Emma, Alycia (Thomas Busby), Drew, Casey, Zach, and Caleb. Family meant everything to Joe, and he built a lifelong home and a lifetime of adventure and togetherness for them.

Funeral Mass will be Friday, April 29 at 10 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1945 Northampton Street, Holyoke, MA. The burial will be held privately. Calling hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 28 at Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home, 2049 Northampton Street, Holyoke, MA. In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for donations to Holyoke Medical Center (www.holyokehealth.com/give-now/donate) or Blessed Sacrament School (www.blessedsacramentholyoke.square.site).

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