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Autism Speaks Co-Founder, Former NBC CEO's Wife Suzanne Wright Dies

Wright and her husband, Bob, co-founded Autism Speaks in 2005 after their grandson was diagnosed

The co-founder of Autism Speaks and wife of a former NBC CEO, Suzanne Wright, died Friday afternoon in her Fairfield, Connecticut, home, the organization's website said. 

"Suzanne sparked a global conversation with one question: How can we help people with autism live their best possible lives?" Autism Speaks Chairman of the Board of Directors Brian Kelly and CEO Angela Geiger said in a joint statement.

"Persuading the world to see the potential in each child and adult on the vast autism spectrum is her greatest legacy."

Wright and her husband, Bob, co-founded Autism Speaks in 2005 after their grandson, Christian, was diagnosed. 

The New York-native helped create the iconic puzzle-piece logo that is now recognized worldwide to represent autism and persuaded the United nations to establish April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day, according to the organization's website. 

Bob and Suzanne married in 1967, while her husband was still in law school at the University of Virginia School of Law. In 1986, he was named president and CEO of NBC where he remained at the helm for 22 years. 

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