Suzanne Wright

After fighting a courageous nine month battle with pancreatic cancer, Suzanne Wright passed on July 29, 2016. She was 69. Suzanne was born in the Bronx on December 16, 1946. She was the daughter of James Werner, a lieutenant in the New York Police Department and combat veteran of World War II, and Ruth Tobin Werner, a homemaker. Suzanne was raised in West Hempstead, Long Island. As a high school senior, she met her future husband when she attended a dance at the College of the Holy Cross, where Bob was a student. She knew immediately that he would become her husband. They married in 1967. Suzanne's education and career ambitions were put on hold while she focused on raising her three children and supporting Bob in his legal and business career, which included a federal court legal clerkship, private legal practice, positions of increasing responsibility at General Electric, and the role of president of Cox Enterprises. In 1986, he was named president and CEO of NBC. In 2005, Suzanne and her husband Bob Wright, co-founded Autism Speaks after their grandson Christian, was diagnosed with autism. Guided by the Wright's leadership and vision, Autism Speaks has since grown into the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. After several years of hard work, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Sarah Lawrence College in 1998. In addition to her work with Autism Speaks, Suzanne had an extensive history of active involvement in community and philanthropic endeavors, primarily focused on helping children. She served on the board of directors for several organizations, including Make-A-Wish Metro New York, the Laura Pels Foundation, the Inner-City Foundation for Charity & Education, and the Philidelphia-based Champions of Caring Project. Suzanne was a trusted emeritus of Sarah Lawrence College, her alma mater, and served on the board of the Tony Randall Theatrical Fund. Suzanne is survived by her husband of 48 years and three children, Catherine Anne, Christopher James, and Maggie Suzanne. A fourth child, Sarah Suzanne died in infancy.