Jack Wright died at his home in Denmark, Maine, on May 5, 2012. His illness was rapid and unexpected. He was born in Hempstead, New York, and was 75 years young.

Jack had recently retired from Maine Medical Center, where he was employed for over 10 years as a manager in the Department of Information Systems.

He leaves his wife, Holly Best of Denmark; his sons, Charlie Wright of Connecticut and John Wright of Indiana; his brother-in-law Jeffrey Rhodes and wife Carol Farnsworth of Denmark; his sister-in-law Heather Rhodes and nephew Ivan Carija of Mystic, Connecticut; and his sister-in-law Carolyn Wright of North Carolina.

Jack was a self-made man who worked many jobs to put himself through college and graduate school and earned a Masters and Ph.D in Sociology from the University of Connecticut. He was the first ex-police officer in the country to earn a Ph.D in sociology/criminal justice/demography.

During his life he worked as a police officer in Connecticut, and taught sociology, criminal justice, and demography as a professor at the University of Connecticut, University of Maryland and the University of Baltimore. He worked in the field of medical informatics for over 30 years. As a Research Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, along with his dear friend David Nagey, MD, Ph.D, he created the Maryland Perinatal Database, the largest women's health database ever created. He also worked at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and most recently at Maine Medical Center. Teaching as a professor was always dear to his heart.

His time in the Navy earlier in his life was also important to him. One of his most treasured accomplishments was earning his Dolphins insignia as a proud member of the U.S. Submarine Service, while serving as Leading Petty Officer in the engine room of the USS Ethan Allen. He was a member of the Maine Sub-Vets organization and worked hard on the Thresher Memorial Project.

Jack loved his dogs, an eclectic variety of music, his home in Maine, writing, woodworking, classical guitar and was an avid reader and researcher. He was truly a renaissance man.

He was loved by his family and friends and will be deeply and profoundly missed.

A memorial service and celebration of Jack's life will take place at a date to be announced later. Correspondences may be sent to his wife, Holly Best at PO Box 107, Denmark, ME 04022 or by email to: best1@fairpoint.net Online condolences: http://obituaries.pressherald.com/obituaries/mainetoday-pressherald or http://www.wnyfuneralhome.com