Andrea Ware Wright

Andrea Ware Wright
April 25, 1938 – February 2, 2026

Andrea Ware Wright passed away at home on February 2nd, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. She was born on April 25, 1938, to Margaret Ethel Akins Wright and William Heermans Wright. Her father was a writer who owned Metzger-Wright Department Store. Her mother was a regular volunteer with local theater and dance. Together, they instilled in Andrea a deep sense of service, curiosity, and community, and Andrea’s love of community.

She grew up in Warren, Pennsylvania, a town whose historic architecture, vibrant arts community, and strong commitment to education laid the foundation for her career and lifelong passions. Her childhood was filled with experiences like walking to the 5 and 10 store for a treat and spending weekends with her parents at a nearby cabin in the woods. It was there, surrounded by nature, that Andrea's lifelong appreciation for family, board games, and exploration took root.

As a teenager, Andrea was drawn to the arts. She played the cello and trained in ballet,  later teaching classes at the local ballet school. Her love of music also developed early, with an enduring passion for classical music and opera.

Andrea attended Smith College, where she received her undergraduate degree and began her love of travel. A semester in Italy opened her eyes to the beauty of Renaissance art, great food and culture, and laughter-filled meals. It became a touchstone for her, a memory she returned to often. She went on to earn a master’s degree in education from Harvard University.

In the early 1960s, Andrea joined one of the Peace Corps pioneer programs where she spent two years in Ethiopia teaching English and history and formed friendships that lasted a lifetime. There, she witnessed firsthand the transformative power of service and education. Though she rarely spoke about the difficulties she faced there, those who knew her understood that the experience shaped her compassion in profound ways.

After the Peace Corps, Andrea served as program director at the Foreign Student Service Council in Washington DC, and as Deputy Director of Self-Help Inc.’s Head Start Program in Brockton, Massachusetts. She also taught reading for the Education Development Center in Newton, Massachusetts. Soon after, Andrea joined the founding staff of Hampshire College, where she served as director of the Early Identification Program, a leadership program for urban youth. Here, she became a mentor to many young teens whose potential and value she believed in. When the program lost funding in 1980, Andrea shifted roles and served as the Director of the Career Options Resource Center — a job she loved until her retirement. During this time, she created a widely popular course called Life-Work-Planning to help people of all ages reflect on their strengths and values, and consider possible career paths.

Andrea was a fiercely loyal friend, the kind who remembered birthdays and would happily drop everything for a cup of coffee and a long conversation. She and her partner, Margaret (Peggy) B. Anderson, met in the late 1970s and married in May 2004, the year when Massachusetts legalized their marriage.

Andrea had a signature spark and chuckle; she was always up for lively dinner conversation, a protest for peace, a road trip to explore small towns throughout the U.S. or visit countries abroad. She found joy in cooking (her homemade pesto, spanakopita, Sicilian caponata, and popovers were favorites), a glass of red wine or gin & tonic, a symphony, local plays and theater, and reading her extensive collection of women’s autobiographies. Andrea went on to donate her collection of autobiographies to Hampshire College as a community resource, helping to endow their care into the future.

Her home was always open to friends, new ideas, and, of course, dogs. Her love of dogs stemmed from when she was a child and included her passion for rescued Airedales, service dogs, and animal rescue organizations. She rescued several dogs with Peggy and supported area animal shelters. Andrea would light up when there was a dog in the room or on her lap, always able to connect to dogs no matter their size.

An active member of the Raging Grannies, an international singing group for peace, she used her voice — quite literally — to stand up for justice by singing and writing songs to use humor to promote peace and equality.

In her later years, Andrea lived with Parkinson’s disease, a cruel turn she faced with grace and grit. Despite her illness, her generosity and humor never wavered. She met each day with an outstretched hand, a gentle smile, and the same warmth that had defined her from the start. The community at Lathrop Retirement Community in Easthampton, Massachusetts — especially her neighbors on Teaberry Lane — as well as friends and colleagues from Hampshire College and members of the Raging Grannies, were a regular part of her life and support over the years, bringing laughter to neighborhood gatherings.

She is missed deeply by many, including those whose lives she touched around the globe.

Andrea is survived by her wife Peggy Anderson, Peggy’s children Judy Anderson (Jerry Cosgrove), Teja Anderson (Frank Dicopoulos), and Daniel Anderson (Lauren Schwartz); their grandchildren Jesse and Luke Anderson, Megan Cosgrove, Jaden Dicopoulos (Bailey Warder), Olivia Dicopoulos (Greg Auerbach), and her great-grandchild, Venice Auerbach. She cared deeply about Migdalia Goba and her children David, Daniel, and Isaabel, as well as Hema Bashyam, her husband Hanu, and their son Divyan, and long-time friend, Andrea Wong.

Her loss is felt deeply by many people far and wide, including her cousin Margaret Ann (Margie) Wright, and longtime friends including Merle Bruno, Sue Alexander, Susan Tracy, Connie Kruger, Scott Barry, Pam Jones, Donna Burhoe, Nanci Newton, Pam Tinto, Lauri Cameron, and Susan Zarchin.

Our family thanks all those who assisted with Andrea’s care, including the caregivers, and nurse, Maria, of Caring Solutions who went above and beyond with their compassionate and empathetic care over the years. We also appreciate the guidance and care provided by staff at the Hospice of the Fisher House. As Peggy has said many times, we envision her crossing the rainbow bridge to meet her beloved pets and friends and family who passed away before her.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in Andrea’s memory may be sent to Dakin Humane Society (animal shelter) at 171 Union St, Springfield, MA 01105 (www.dakinhumane.org), honoring her love for animals and her belief in a gentler, more compassionate world. Due to the distance of family, a gathering to celebrate her life may be held later in the year.

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