Jenna R. Wright of Northampton, Massachusetts, died February 26. A native and longtime resident of Beaumont, she had lived in Northampton for four years
Jenna is survived by her parents, Dr. Stuart A. and Nancy H. Wright; sister, Sarah K. Wright; and brother, Jared M. Wright all of Beaumont; her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John G. Heard of Houston; and her paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John R. Wright of Bellingham, Washington.
Jenna attended Holyoke Community College in Hadley, Massachusetts, majoring in biology with a special interest in primates. Jenna was named to the National Dean’s List in 2005 and was selected to serve as collegiate scholar in the 2006 International Scholar Laureate Program Delegation on Medicine in Australia. Jenna was active in animal care and animal rights and was always rescuing abandoned dogs, cats and a various array of God’s creatures. She served as administrative assistant at the Dakin Animal Shelter in Leverett, Massachusetts. Jenna hoped to work one day in the field of interspecies communication with Dr. Penny Paterson and Koko the gorilla at The Gorilla Foundation in California.
Those wishing to honor the memory of Jenna Wright may do so by sending a contribution in her name to The Gorilla Foundation, 1733 Woodside Road, Suite 330, Redwood, California 94061 (www.koko.org). The Foundation is currently developing a project called the Gorilla Villa, a habitat designed to encourage Koko to mate and teach her offspring sign language.
A gathering of family and friends will be from 1:00 P.M.-3:00 P.M. Saturday, March 11, 2006 at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.