Mr. Narragansett Dies

Mr. Narragansett, Charles “Ted” Wright, has died.

Wright died Saturday at 84 and leaves behind a community that will mourn the loss for generations -- generations who will remember a man that was defined by the town he loved, both in nickname and in spirit.

Wright will also be remembered as helping define Narragansett. His mark on this small community of about 20,000 people -- a mix of year-round residents and transients who come to study and vacation -- will stand the test of time. The Dillon Rotary, which greets motorists with the famous Narragansett Beer script, emblazoned on a curving brick wall right at the border with South Kingstown, was one of his infinite projects. He saved it from being knocked down, moved, rearranged numerous times and made sure it was adorned with the proper flags, landscaping and never littered.

He also was a town councilman, a state senator, farmer, entrepreneur and founder of a pile of companies, all of which he made successful and either sold off or tended up until his death.

And along with his public service, Wright somehow found the time to pour himself into volunteering on countless boards, committees and for local organizations. He was on the Towers Committee, a member of the Narragansett Lions Club, the Narragansett Notables, the Historical Society, Senior Center. He raised money for countless initiatives over the years, using his charm and get-it-done mastery to twist arms and open up wallets for cause after cause.

A full story about Wright’s legacy will be posted soon. His obituary is posted below:

Charles Ted Wright, “Mr. Narragansett”, 84, passed away Saturday, July 11, 2015. He was the husband of Barbara (Browning) Wright for 65 years.

He was the son of the late William J. and Sarah (Jones) Wright. Ted was a fixture in both town and state government and volunteer extraordinaire for the past six decades. Ted was named Town Sergeant in 1958. He was the owner of Wrights Rubbish Removal, Wrights British Taxi and Double Decker Bus, Bagpiper Smoke Shoppe, and South County Trolley.

He was a member of the Narragansett Lions Club, the Democratic Town Committee, the Narragansett Senior Center, Narragansett Notables, the Narragansett Historical Society and the Towers Committee.

He was the father of Terrie Quinn, her husband David and the late Paul Hoxsie, Penne Drugan, her husband Richard Sr. all of Narragansett, Cindy Rose, her husband Earl of Richmond; grandfather of Michelle Hoxsie-Quinn, Richard Drugan Jr., Amy Meyer, Garth Hoxsie-Quinn, Jeremiah Rose, Tracie Quinn and Ryan Drugan; great grandfather of five; brother of Zella Westcott, Ruth McQuade, Kenneth Wright, Janet Wilson and the late Warren Wright, Kay Sherman and John Wright.

The funeral will be Thursday, July 16, at 10:00 a.m. in Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St., Wakefield. Burial will be private. Visiting hours will be Wednesday 4-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice Care of RI, 143 Main St, Wakefield, RI 02879.