As people arrived at the Palm Springs High School’s Richards Center for the Arts on the afternoon of Saturday, March 15, the mood was a mixture of expectant, happy and somber. They were coming to pay tribute to Ricky Wright, who impacted so many of their lives, directly or indirectly, during his tenure as the school’s principal from 1997-2012.
Wright died at the age of 75 on March 8.
In the lobby, attendees were met with colorful balloons, decorations, printed tribute cards and metal buttons. Family, friends, colleagues and former students shared hugs, laughter and memories while catching up with one another and waiting to sign the memory book.
When the tribute program began, the undeniable impact of Ricky Wright’s life and work became evident. At the lectern, speakers talked about the infectious high energy, the firm commitment to helping others achieve their aspirations, and the strong opinions that were all attributes of Wright throughout his lifetime.
The emcee was Michael Ventura, a former colleague of Wright and the current Palm Springs High School principal.
“Ricky was a truly remarkable man,” Ventura said. “… Ricky was more than just a principal. He was a leader, a mentor, a husband, a father, a coach, a friend. I had the privilege of knowing him in so many of those roles. He shaped lives, built this community and made Palm Springs a place that is special, where people come to, and students and staff felt that they could be at their very best under his leadership. He was larger than life, commanded respect, and had a heart that gave endlessly.
“For me personally, Ricky is the reason I’m standing here today. He gave me my first opportunity in education. He saw something in me, before I even saw it in myself. We were out there at a track meet, and we had talked a little bit about possibly teaching, but it wasn’t on the map yet. And then, we’re sitting in a golf cart, and he said, ‘You’re going to teach here next year.’ And just like that, my path changed. I went from being an athletic trainer and classified employee to being a teacher. … I’m incredibly grateful for that.”
Tony Signoret, the Palm Springs Unified School District superintendent (who is retiring at the end of this school year), both amused and impressed the gathering with his anecdote and message.
“I remember a time when I was in (human resources), and we were facing a tight budget here,” Signoret said. “Palm Springs High had to make some difficult cuts, and the staffing reductions were about to impact the master schedule. But realizing the issue, I was able to work behind the scenes to restore the staffing. And when I called Ricky, I was excited to give him the good news. … He picked up the phone, and before I could even say hello, he said, ‘Yeah, you know I’ve been meaning to call you.’ And then he launched into this 15-minute speech about why those teachers were absolutely incredible. He went on and on about the impact to the master schedule, the program, the kids, you name it. I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. Finally, when I was able to speak, I said, ‘Ricky, Ricky, I’ve already taken care of this.’ And he said, ‘What?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I took care of it. You’ve got the staff.’ And without missing a beat, he said, ‘Oh, that’s great. Hey, we need to catch up over a drink sometime. Give me a call.’ And he hangs up, just like that.
“But here’s the thing: That passionate, sometimes intense personality—it was never offensive, not for a second. … It came from his unbending commitment to the students, the staff and the community. He wanted to be sure they had the best opportunities, no matter how big, no matter how small. … His heart was always in the right place, and his passion for his students and his staff was unmatched. No one was a bigger advocate. No one fought harder. No one cared more about the success and wellbeing of the Palm Springs High family than Ricky Wright.”
Former PSHS football coach Steve Fabian brought both laughter and gravitas to his remembrances of Wright.
“There’s an old statement that a good man is hard to find,” Fabian said. “But we can rest assured that Palm Springs High School and the community definitely found one in Mr. Wright. … Everybody in here has a Ricky Wright story. He touched many people in the most positive way possible, whether it was a kind word in passing, or a hug in the hall. He gave comfort and joy to over 1,000 students a day. Maybe it was the time that Ricky took the entire football team and the coaching staff to see the premiere of Remember the Titans at the Rose Bowl. There wasn’t a dry eye in the stadium that night. … Or maybe it was as the leader of our pep rally. He took it upon himself to be the leader of the school and the community. I have a vivid memory of the time he raced the mayor (of Palm Springs). It was a 50-yard dash. He smoked him.”
As he closed his remarks, Fabian shared this message: “They say that greatness, no matter how long it lasts, always sits with a man. None of us are guaranteed anything in life. It is upon us to earn our own accolades and success. ‘The road to success is paved with hard work’ is another time-honored statement that Ricky held true for himself. He worked hard and played hard, and was never afraid to take a step backwards so that others can take three steps forward. He was a man for the ages.”
At one point, Jose Esparza delivered statements on behalf of Assemblymembers Jeff Gonzalez and Greg Wallis. During his personal remarks, Esparza said: “Palm Springs is the all-American town.”
Given the tempestuous times afflicting America today, it would be nice to think that’s the case. The uplifting spirit of diversity, inclusiveness, empathy, acceptance and human understanding that coursed through the auditorium was emblematic of a not-so-distant time when such inspiring values often guided the public policies and messaging of elected and appointed leaders. America badly needs more leaders like Ricky Wright today.
Edited to clarify the location of the service.
