Dr. Andrew Wright, formerly of Lincoln and Newton, Massachusetts, passed peacefully on October 9, 2023.

He was the beloved husband of Greta Wright, father of Mairi Mashburn and Fiona Ostermayer, grandfather of Nicholas Hall, Catriona Mashburn, Calum Mashburn, and Ian Ostermayer, father-in-law of David Mashburn and Paul Ostermayer, brother of Dorothy Bennett and Margaret Torrance, uncle of Andrew Torrance and Graham Torrance, and brother-in-law of Philip Bennett and Robert Torrance. Andrew was also a much loved and revered mentor, scientist, and Professor Emeritus at the Tufts University School of Medicine.

Andrew was born in Portobello Scotland on January 28th, 1935 to Annie Richardson Wright and William Wright. His early childhood was overshadowed by the second world war and it was not until that conflict had ended that his two sisters, Dorothy and Margaret, 10 and 11 years his junior, respectively, were born.

As a child, Andrew was full of mischief, and often shared stories of his young exploits. One particular adventure involved the budding scientist experimenting to see if oil would burn when floating on water. He performed this experiment in the kitchen sink. Needless to say, the fire spread to the curtains and a wall. Andrew managed to douse the flames and then tried to repaint the kitchen before his parents returned home. They were not fooled for a moment.

In spite of his puckish leanings, Andrew was loved and supported by his parents, and early in high school he turned a corner when he discovered his passion for science. After leaving high school, he studied science at Heriot-Watt University where he met Greta Landles. Andrew graduated from HW in 1957 and they married later that year in Hawick, Scotland. Shortly afterwards he began his Ph.D. at Edinburgh University.

Andrew completed his Ph.D. in microbiology in September of 1960, and not long after, he and Greta set sail for the United States. Andrew took a research position at Honeywell in Minnesota. He and Greta remained in Minnesota for a few years, and in 1963 adopted their first daughter, Fiona. Soon after Fiona joined them, the family moved east to Boston, where Andrew undertook a post-doctoral fellowship in the lab of Phil Robbins at M.I.T. from 1963 to 1967. The family took up residence in Newton, Massachusetts and in 1965, Andrew and Greta welcomed their second daughter, Mairi.

As soon as they arrived in Massachusetts, Andrew and Greta planted roots that would grow deep and strong over the years. They met numerous British ex-pats and kept those friendships strong and thriving with trips, activities and dinner parties. Andrew, a talented athlete, helped to found the Boston Rugby Club and soon became its captain. The team played all over the northeast against both private and university teams, more often than not, prevailing against their opponents and collecting several trophies. Many members of his team were gathered into Andrew and Greta's growing community with most becoming lifelong friends.

In the early 1970's Andrew and Greta joined the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society of Boston. There they spent many happy Friday evenings dancing, and growing their community of friends. The RSCDS hosted many balls, along with a summer retreat at the Pinewoods Dance Camp, which Andrew and Greta happily attended for many years.

When they first arrived in Massachusetts, the family moved to Newton, initially renting, and eventually purchasing their first home in Newton Lower Falls, where the girls attended the local elementary school. Andrew and Greta loved dogs and it was in this house that their first beloved pet, Heidi, joined the family. She was the first of 5 dogs that Andrew and Greta would love and nurture together. In this first home also, was born a tradition that was to become one of the most highly anticipated events of the year among their friends – Andrew and Greta's New Year's Eve party. This party was always an elaborate affair that would kick off with an intricate game and end with a boisterous round of Scottish country dancing. Andrew and Greta used this party as a way for their varied friends to get to know one another.

Another source of friends and community for Andrew and Greta came from Andrew's work. His lab at Tufts university was well-known for its positive and supportive environment, and word of Andrew's supportive leadership drew students from across the globe. They wanted to work with him not only for his lab's excellence in science, but because they knew what a great mentor he was. Andrew took all his graduate students under his wing, and even many years after they had moved into their own careers, they continued to call Andrew a dear friend. Colleagues at Tufts and around the world likewise respected and admired him. Andrew and Greta's dining table was often in use for dinners and parties for this global scientific parade of notable scientists and their families.

Over the years, Andrew and Greta moved two more times, first to West Newton, then in 1989, to a home in Lincoln, Massachusetts, where they lived for 34 years. As had their previous homes, the house in Lincoln continued to host visitors, dinner and party guests, and many family visits from the girls and their husbands and children.

As Andrew and Greta built their community, Andrew's career was burgeoning. In 1967, he had been hired as an associate professor in the Microbiology Department at Tufts University. This position soon led to a tenured professorship and a research lab that drew students from around the world. As his career progressed, he became more well-known and respected by scientists from other countries with whom he often collaborated. His career at Tufts spanned over 40 years and he was beloved by students and colleagues alike. His international forays with other scientists included work in Israel, Japan, and Denmark, leading to the pinnacle of his career: the Newton-Abraham Visiting Professorship at Oxford University in England in 2005.

In his early 50's, Andrew decided to take up mountain climbing, and, like everything else he turned his hand to, there were no half measures. In 1989 he climbed Washington State's Mount Rainier, followed by the Matterhorn in Switzerland in 1990, Mont Blanc in the Swiss Alps in 1992, and a partial climb of Everest in 1996. Andrew was an avid climber and when he was not scaling the great heights, he could often be found on "smaller" climbs in New Hampshire and New York State.

Andrew retired from Tufts in 2014, earning the title of Professor Emeritus, and he and Greta spent a good deal of time traveling. Trips abroad included Italy, France, Israel, Portugal, and a European river cruise. As he got older, Andrew started to develop some orthopedic issues that required surgery. Life began to slow down for him and for Greta, but they enjoyed the peace of their house, sitting on their back deck with a gorgeous view of the small neighborhood pond, and walking with their two dogs, Domino and MacDuff every day.

Andrew Wright lived a life that was full of great love and of great achievement. He touched the lives of so many and gave generously of himself in order to help his family, his friends, his students, and his colleagues. He was a vigorous, passionate, intelligent and compassionate person. From the great heights of the Matterhorn to the peaceful quiet of his deck, and everything in between, his was a life that was lived fully and completely. We who loved him can only look on with admiration and awe, knowing that his journey was truly a grand adventure.

Relatives and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life service will be held for Andrew on Sunday, November 19th at 1:00 pm at the deCordova Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd, Lincoln, MA. A private burial service will be held at Lincoln Cemetery.

Andrew's family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Andrew and Greta Wright Fellowship. You can make your gift online by clicking here .  Choose "Other" under designation, and write in "Andrew and Greta Wright Fund". Or send a check payable to "Trustees of Tufts College" with a note to direct the gift to the "Andrew and Greta Wright Fund" to Tufts University, P.O. Box 3306, Boston, MA 02241-3306.

Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.