Lifelong Homewood Man And Historian Who Loved His Town Remembered

HOMEWOOD, IL — A lifelong Homewood resident known for his passion for service, hometown pride and devotion to his faith has died. A former Homewood firefighter and village trustee, and devout parishioner of then-Saint Joseph, James Wright was 63 years old.

He died March 10 after a nearly 7-year battle with cancer. His loss is deeply felt by his friends and family, who described him succinctly as "just a great guy."

"James was always interested, in you, in people, he was engaging and easy to talk with," said his sister Nancy Dubetz. "... James was very talkative. I always admired that about him. He could talk to anyone about anything. He always made people very comfortable. Really took a keen interest in people."

A 1973 graduate of St. Joseph's Grade School followed by Marian Catholic High School, James went on to achieve his "childhood dream come to life," as a Homewood firefighter for 22 years. His town service didn't end there; he ran and was elected to the position of village trustee for one, four-year term, as well.

"James was very intelligent, and very involved," Dubetz told Patch. "Community meant a lot to him ... he was very involved in his community."

Sense of community also strengthened his commitment to his parish, where friend and fellow parishioner John Ligda recalls time spent ministering alongside Wright.

"He was a simple, unassuming and yet fiercely devoted parishioner who rarely said 'no' to whatever was requested of him," said Ligda, who served as the parish's organist and choir director for nearly 20 years.

Wright's years were filled with passionate pursuit and documentation of history, whether that of his family, town, or parish.

"He loved Homewood history and family history," Dubetz said. He had completed two family history books, she added, along with several on the history of Homewood. Another will be published posthumously, this one on the precursor to Interstate 57 known as the Egyptian Trail.

For Ligda, it was Wright's knowledge of their shared parish and town that impressed him.

"I attribute much of my knowledge of the 110-year history of Saint Joseph Parish — church and school — to Jim," Ligda said. "His research, writings, and oral history of the parish and indeed the Village of Homewood, was beyond impressive.

"Future generations of Homewood residents, and Catholic’s affiliated with the new Saint John Neumann Parish (formerly Saint Joseph), will benefit from the archival records Jim maintained."

In addition to his love of history, Wright enjoyed his 1954 Ford Fire Chief car, displaying it in local parades and the Drivin' the Dixie event, his sister said.

"The love of his life was his ’54 Ford Fire Chief car," Dubetz said. "It was a big thrill for him to drive that in parades."

He was also active for many years with the A’s-R-Us car club, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005. In further service to others, he volunteered with South Suburban PADS, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization working to prevent and end homelessness in the south suburbs of Chicago.

Dubetz can also clearly remember their childhoods together. Wright was one of six children, sandwiched between two older brothers, one older sister, and two younger sisters.

"When he was younger, he enjoyed playing baseball, and like most young boys had dreams of being a professional ball player," Dubetz said. "He and I often played with his Matchbox cars, he always had the police and fire cars. We would also play office, he being Senator or Mr. Wright to my Miss Dobbs."

He had a love of classics even at a younger age, Dubetz said.

"He would type out missives to me on an old Royal typewriter," she said. "In his high school years he employed that same typewriter to write up letters to police and fire departments around the country requesting patches for his collection. He amassed quite a collection."

He also collected other firefighter memorabilia, she said, including figurines, helmets and artwork.

And he had an eye for Homewood-specific mementos, too.

"Did you know there was a Homewood dairy?" Dubetz mused to Patch. "He’s got milk bottles from there!"

At the time of his passing, he was employed with Catholic Mutual Group as a claims/risk manager by the Diocese of Joliet. The work brought him joy and focus in his final years.

Even as he battled cancer, Dubetz said, he also showed deep empathy for those around him, recounted through time spent time with family before entering a nursing home prior to his death.

"I remember watching the news, whatever tragedy of the day it was, he’d say, 'Oh, these poor people,'" Dubetz said. "He'd heard that his time was almost up, and he still had that empathy for other people."

The siblings lost their mother just one month ago; she would have turned 100 years old on Easter.

"It was a double-whammy," Dubetz said, of losing both her mother and brother in such close succession.

Having never married or had children, Wright was a beloved uncle to eight and great-uncle to two. He fought his cancer bravely, and without complaint.

"He battled his cancer valiantly and with dignity," Dubetz wrote. "We have yet to realize just how much we will miss him."

Visitation for Wright will be held Wednesday, March 15, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Tews-Ryan Funeral Home, 18230 Dixie Highway in Homewood. Funeral services will be held Thursday, with 10:15 a.m. prayers at the funeral home and procession to St. John Neuman Church (formerly St. Joseph Church) in Homewood, for Mass of the Resurrection at 11 a.m. Interment to follow at Assumption Cemetery in Glenwood. In Lieu of flowers memorials to P.A.D.S. are encouraged. A complete obituary and guestbook can be found online.