James Wadsworth Wright of Canandaigua

Jim was born February 17, 1928, the son of Walter James and Lana Wadsworth Wright in Cortland, New York. His father died in 1931 after suffering a ruptured appendix. His mother died in 1988 from natural causes. Jim graduated from Cincinnatus Central School with a college entrance diploma in 1944. He was a member of championship soccer, baseball and basketball teams in high school. He entered Cornell University in 1944, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He participated in intramural sports and was in ROTC at Cornell for two years. He became eligible for the draft in 1946 and was rejected by the service because of a cleft palate, which he had since birth. He dropped out of school and had surgery at Columbia Presbyterian Medical center to repair the lip and palate. He subsequently returned to Cornell and graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics.

On July 2nd, 1955, he married Diane Claire LeFevre in Beaver Falls, New York, with Rev. Robert Bird officiating. The pastor was also present to perform the ceremony again on their 40th anniversary at the family camp at Effley Falls.

Jim was employed as a store manager by G.L.F. (Agway) in various locations in New York and Pennsylvania for 9 years. After leaving G.L.F., he was employed by Beaverite Products, Inc. for 23 years in various capacities, including Vice President. While living in Beaver Falls, he served on the Board of Directors of the Lewis County Trust Company (now part of Community Bank) for 10 years. In 1985, he and Diane moved to Batavia, where he was employed by Bok Industries in LeRoy until retiring in 1996. In 1982-1983, he served as President of the Binding Industries of America, a national trade organization of loose leaf manufacturing companies.

He and Diane moved to Canandaigua in 2001 and are members of the First United Methodist Church. He is a former member of the Croghan Lions Club and a former member of the Canandaigua Rotary Club. The couple traveled in Europe as well as the United States and Canada, and spent several weeks in the Sarasota area in recent years, and owned a time share on Longboat Key for 25 years. Jim enjoyed bowling, golfing with his grandsons, as well as sailing with the family at the camp on the Beaver River. Days at camp were memorable because of the companionship of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and other Effley Campers. He was a participant in cardiac rehab for over 20 years following a heart attack in 1997.

Jim was predeceased by his loving wife Diane of 66 years in July 2021. He is survived by his son, James Walter Wright of West Henrietta, his son in law, Terry Taube of Cazenovia and three Taube grandsons and their families. Matthew (Lindsey), great grandson Miles and great granddaughter Felicity of New Hartford, David (Benita) of Virginia, great granddaughter Raya and Robert (Anna), great granddaughters Julia and Lillian and great grandson Charles of Cazenovia. He is also survived by several cousins in the Central New York area and in Florida and three children of Diane's sister Marcia. He was pre deceased by their daughter Deborah, who died in 2017 after a long battle with cancer.

A memorial service is being planned for the Spring of 2026.

Contributions in Jim's memory may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Canandaigua, NY 14424 and the First United Methodist Church of Beaver Falls, NY 13305.

To share a memory or express condolences online, please visit www.fullerfh.com