Joel Barlow Community Mourns a Coach, Mentor and Friend

REDDING, CT — The communities of both Redding and Easton are mourning the death of Jordan Wright, who died on Nov. 4 after a long bout with bone cancer. Wright, 40, was not only a football coach and the owner of the Redding Ridge market as well as the Redding Roadhouse, but left a lasting and unforgettable mark on every life he touched.

"His life is a compilation of the movies Love Story, Rudy, Animal House and then some," said Jordan's father Ken Wright.

Born on July 6, 1976 in Montreal, Canada, Wright resided in Redding for 39 of his 40 years. He graduated from Joel Barlow High School in 1994, where he donned the black and gold as a standout football player. He then made his way to Clemson University, later leaving with a Bachelor's degree in economics and a lifetime worth of stories and memories with his legion of friends by his side.

Wright returned to Redding in 2000, where he began a career as a builder and carpenter. In 2007, he returned to the team he so deeply cherished to coach freshman football, which is where is family says he found his true calling.

More than a Coach

In the summer of 2007, I had recently moved to Easton after a three-year period in Japan. Not knowing anyone on the team nor anybody at the school, My mother dropped me off at the front door of Barlow, and then proceeded to drill Wright with questions in order to ensure the safety of her "little bunny."

"We'll take care of him," Wright said in his calming way, immediately proving to my mother that things would be okay, despite not knowing himself what the future held.

Wright had a unique way of welcoming someone into his circle, one that set those close to him apart from the rest. Known as "Jor" to his family, "Gordo" to his friends and "Coach" to his players; Wright would bestow a unique nickname upon many who he came in contact with. Immediately, I became "Tokyo Joe", eventually becoming "The Lip" further down the road. In our little freshman football family we also had "Benny Ballgame", "Tank", "Shminguez", "Sterny" and "Sammy K" (among others); names that I use eight years later.

"Coach Wright's nicknames are going to be part of his legacy," Joel Barlow head football coach Rob Tynan told Patch."There would be times that freshman would come up (to varsity) and I wouldn't know their real name."

The halls of Barlow can be a bit lonely for the new kid, dealing with the challenges of entering high school with few to confide in. However, there was a light at the tunnel at the end of each day, knowing that practice with Coach would provide a humorous and unforgettable escape from the daily grind. Hearing him greet me with a rhythmic "Tokyo Joe" at the beginning of each practice reminded me that there was a home for me in this lonely new place.

The 2007 group wasn't easy to love. We wouldn't listen, we would get in trouble at school and lost almost every game we played. Despite our many athletic shortcomings, Coach always reminded us that he wouldn't choose the other team over us, and taught us to never give up and continue to fight.

"He took care of birds with broken wings," said Ken Wright."That was what he did."

When he was diagnosed with cancer the following year, Coach's actions spoke louder than his words ever could. He never missed a football practice, sometimes having gone through chemotherapy sessions earlier in the day. He continued to show up at practice with a smile on his face and an enthusiasm greater than any players on the field, despite facing challenges too great for most.

"There would be times where he would have ripped tubes out of his arm and come to practice from the hospital," Tynan said."I would say 'Jordan, What are you doing here'? And he would say 'I had to get to practice. We gotta win this week.'"

"He loved it," Jordan's sister Mackenzie Sullivan told Patch."There's nothing he loved more than coaching those football teams."

Unrelenting Loyalty

In 2011, Wright decided to reinvigorate the Redding Ridge Market, which had been closed for a few years due to a fire and had been a shell of itself for years before that. With little knowledge of the restaurant business, he miraculously turned what was previously a vacant building into a vibrant market and deli. The ridge became not only an after school hangout for many Barlow students, Wright employed many from his alma mater.

Those who worked for Wright were brought into his family, and no matter who they were, he was fiercely loyal to them.

"Jordan didn't care about what you had, he didn't care about what was in it for him," Jordan's sister Mackenzie Sullivan told Patch."He cared about what was in it for the other person."

Wright worked around the clock to serve not only his customers and the community of Redding, but even people he didn't know. He continued to serve Redding when he purchased the Redding Roadhouse in 2014, revitalizing yet another local gem and creating a place for people he loved to get together. Wright's father said that Jordan would open the Ridge at 6 a.m., and wouldn't rest until he closed the Roadhouse at 1 a.m..

Through these ventures he had an opportunity to deal with almost everyone in the community, and would rush at a moments notice to help anyone in need. Whether it was helping someone frame a house, move some furniture or even lending someone money, Wright's friends and family say he was always there to lend a hand without hesitation.

"He was generous to a fault," Sullivan said."If you asked him for money he would loan him money. Half of the people never paid him back, but he didn't care because he forgave you."

An Unforgettable Legacy

Over 800 packed the Joel Barlow High School auditorium on Nov. 12 to celebrate Wright's life. They were old friends, former players and classmates, teachers and even those who had brief interactions with him. There were laughter and tears, and stories one couldn't even script.

Whether it was the story of Wright building himself a lean to shelter on the Clemson campus while in college, or calling the "Trojan Horse" trick play in a freshman football game, all who attended had their own memories of Wright because he treated all he met with his own personal brand of loyalty, kindness and warmth.

"I had an email from a girl who said she drove him to Barlow every day when they were in high school," Sullivan said."She said that that drive to school made her so happy every day. It was just him being him. I don't even know if he knew he was doing it."

Of all those Jordan loved, his family was his rock. In addition to his loving parents, Ken and Sandra as well as his sister Mackenzie, he had a special bond with his nieces Casey and Addie, whom he loved dearly. Later in life, he met and fell in love with Kate Cestari, who blessed him with his daughter Autumn on April 11, 2016.

The two married while Wright was in the intensive care unit in Norwalk Hospital on Sept. 20, 2016. While barely able to speak, his father asked him if he would like to marry his fiance Kate. The two agreed, and with the help of those at the hospital, the two were married within four hours of his father Ken asking the question.

"Everyone that was at that ceremony said it was the most beautiful wedding they had ever seen," said Ken Wright."It was a miraculous day and a beautiful ceremony."

Ken said that one could make a movie on Wright's life, and I tend to agree. All who interacted with Wright could tell the story in a different way, but would all end up at a similar point. No matter how you interacted with him, he had a lasting impact on all who crossed his path.

"He was able to make everyone feel like his best friend," Sullivan said."He was just an amazing guy."

We'll miss you, Coach.

Image credit: Matt Stragazzi, left, Coach Wright, center. Credit: Sarah O'Connor

Editor's Note: Joe Lipovich is an editor with Patch.com in Massachusetts. He played for Wright during the 2007 football season and is a graduate of Joel Barlow High School in 2011.