Easton-Redding Football Coach Jordan Thomsen Wright, 40, Passed Away

REDDING, CT — Jordan Thomsen Wright, age 40, born July 6, 1976 in Montreal, Canada, died at home in Redding, CT on November 4, 2016. He was a Redding resident for 39 of his 40 years.

Jordan attended Redding schools, graduating from Joel Barlow High School in 1994. He attended Clemson University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in economics in 1998. After college he trekked the mountains of Nepal. Upon his return to Redding, life in a blue pinstriped suit didn’t seem to fit, and Jor began work in the building industry. A quick learner and consummate craftsman, he built his first house in Redding in 2000. Numerous other projects followed throughout Fairfield County and the US Virgin Islands.

An avid football fan, former player, and fierce competitor, in 2007 Jordan returned to his alma mater to coach freshman football. In coaching he found his true calling, mentoring hundreds of young men. For eight seasons he instructed, encouraged, and pushed his boys to try harder. Despite a tragic diagnosis of bone cancer in 2008, he seldom missed practices or games where he heroically waved his crutches with every completed pass.

With his building career on hold, Jordan sought out new challenges, first reinvigorating the Redding Ridge Market in 2011, and then taking on the Redding Roadhouse in 2014.
His unique understanding of the spirit of Redding enabled him to breathe life back into these meeting places. These were his gifts to the town he loved.

Jordan is remembered by a legion of friends as funny, smart and creative, but the private Jor was quieter, playful and gentle. He never failed his family, shared every first day of school with his nieces and spent Christmas Eves on their sofa in a vain attempt to catch Santa. When Kate Cestari entered his life he found true and abiding love. On April 11, 2016 she gave him Autumn Grace whose amazing smile he treasured beyond all else.

Jordan’s Uncle Rod just said, “Cancer can’t go to greener pastures as Jordan has, so he has won this game as well.”

Jordan is survived by his wife Kate and his daughter, Autumn Grace, his parents, Kenneth and Sandra Wright of Redding, His sister, Mackenzie Sullivan, her husband Dennis and their daughters Casey and Addie, and a grand extended family.

A celebration of Jordan’s life will be held at Joel Barlow High School at 11 a.m., Saturday, November 12, 2016 and a reception at The Redding Roadhouse will follow.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Jordan Wright Memorial Scholarship, established by the family to recognize a student athlete who has persevered through adversity. Donations may be mailed to: Joel Barlow High School, 100 Black Rock Turnpike, Redding, CT 06896. Please note JTW Memorial Scholarship.