Brian Wright, 42; Champion Figure Skaters’ Choreographer

Brian Wright, 42, who designed winning routines for figure skating stars Kristi Yamaguchi, Michelle Kwan, Scott Davis and Scott Williams, died July 29 in a Seattle hospital of complications from AIDS.

A native of Washington, Wright began skating at age 13 after watching the 1968 Winter Olympics on television. As a novice, Wright placed second at the national championships. He toured for four years with the Ice Capades, studied dance, performed in “A Chorus Line” on Broadway and taught figure skating.

Wright worked with Yamaguchi in 1991, when she won the World Championship, and created programs that helped Davis win national titles.

Named the U.S. Figure Skating Assn.’s Choreographer of the Year in 1994, Wright used a wide range of music in his routines -- everything from “Fiddler on the Roof” to classic rock to Mendelssohn to the conga.

Wright, who lived 17 years with HIV and eight with fully developed AIDS, was an outspoken advocate for safe sex.

“It was very important to him that people not be complacent about the disease,” said his sister, Pam Wright.