Professor Donald Wright was ‘determined’ to teach post-diagnosis of cancer

Donald Wayne Wright is remembered most in the political science department for his commitment to being a teacher.

Wright, a professor of more than 20 years, died of cancer March 10 at age 51. He taught math sciences and political science.

Wright was diagnosed last fall with cancer in the lower part of his body.  He informed saddened colleague, Denise Schafer, coordinator of Master of Science Administration.

“We encouraged him to take the semester off,” Schafer said, “But he was adamant that he needed to be doing something normal and enjoyable to him and that was being in the classroom.”

Kim Gribben, the assistant director of MSA, worked with Wright for 14 years and was always impressed with his dedication to the students.

“One of the most memorable things about him was that he was determined to keep teaching,” she said. “We had every hope at the beginning of the semester that he was going to beat the cancer.”

The students in his two classes this semester, PSC 321: The American Chief Executive and MSA 640: Quantitative Applications in Decision Making, were informed of the situation.

Soon after, he was diagnosed with a 95 percent chance of survival. Then came the shattering news.

“Right before the end of February,” Gribben said, “he’d been told he had two weeks.”
Wright’s body had a bad reaction to the chemotherapy and he took a permanent leave of absence. When his students returned from spring break, they were informed in class that their teacher had died.

Eric Boné, a Lincoln Park senior, was in Wright’s PSC 321 class. He said everybody was shocked.

“There were some gasps and then silence,” said Boné. “We were all floored.”

Thomas Stewart, assistant professor of political science, will take over the class.

“I’ve had Stewart before,” Boné said. “He’s a good teacher and I’m sure everything will work out.”

Stewart had once shared an office with Wright and had no premonitions about jumping into the job half a semester in.

“I taught the class so many times, I don’t think it should be a problem,” Stewart said.

Walter Schneider, emeritus professor of physical education and sport, will take over Wright’s MSA 640 class. He also teaches MSA 685: Integrative Analysis of Administration which, Schafer said, is exactly the material that Wright’s class has been preparing students for.

“It wasn’t a big deal for him to step in and pick up where Don had left off,” Shafer said. “They had worked together for years.”

Wright lived in Lansing, working a full time job in social security and teaching at CMU.

He retired from social security two years ago, but continued teaching in Mount Pleasant, as well as campus MSA courses in Saginaw and Southfield and PSC courses in Flint and Dearborn.

Gribben said his absence will leave a hole educationally and emotionally.

“He will be missed,” she said.

Condolences can be sent to Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 900 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing.