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Maximilian Urquhart Wright, a longtime resident of the Princeton area, died unexpectedly on September 12, 2024, at the age of 44.
Max was born on October 4, 1979 at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., to Richard LaFollette and Margaret Walker Wright, with whom Max shared a birthday. In the early 1980s the family moved to Princeton where Max grew up on Jefferson Road in a loving home that was a hub of activity and community.
Max attended Community Park Elementary School, John Witherspoon Middle School, and The Hun School for high school, from which he graduated in 1998. Max attended Denison University in Granville, Ohio, and received a BA in 2002.
In his youth Max cultivated a love for the outdoors and biked around Princeton with his friends. He was fond of furry animals of all sizes and over time developed an eclectic musical preference for Bruce Springsteen, Elvis, Guns & Roses, and Willie Nelson. Max rooted passionately for the New York Mets and San Francisco 49ers. His clear favorite local delicacy was a plate of Buffalo wings from Chuck’s Spring Street Café. He looked forward to annual family trips to Greece and the Jersey shore.
A natural “all round athlete,” Max loved the competition and camaraderie that came from participation in many different sports. Whether it was gymnastics, wrestling, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, football, baseball, or lacrosse — Max had a reputation for excelling within Princeton’s local sporting community. He set scoring records in the Dylan Youth Basketball league in middle school and was known to have hit the very first homerun at the then newly constructed Princeton Little League fields by the Shopping Center. At Hun, Max received many state and regional distinctions in both football and lacrosse, serving as a captain to each team. Max chose Denison University to play both football and lacrosse, the latter of which was consistently nationally ranked, accomplishing two NCCA Division III Final Four appearances during his college career.
After college Max worked in the commercial and residential real estate sectors in Boston and San Francisco, while traveling the world when he could. Max eventually returned to New Jersey to manage residential and farm properties. During this time Max developed a lasting love for golf while maintaining a regular presence at the YMCA on Paul Robeson Place for early morning pick-up basketball.
More than his devotion to any hobby, sport or vocation, Max was passionate about people. He truly loved a vast amount of friends and individuals from across the community. Max is survived by his parents Margaret and Richard Wright of Princeton, his older brother Walker Wright of Oakland, California, his two nephews, Cooper and Sawyer, and numerous loving cousins, aunts, and uncles.
Max’s family and close friends will host a celebration of Max’s life on Thursday September 19 at 1 p.m. at Springdale Golf Club, 1895 Clubhouse Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540.
Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.