Andrew T. Wainwright

Andrew T. Wainwright lived boldly, generously, and wildly devoted to what he would tell you was his greatest achievement– his family. His children, Scout & Augie, and his wife, Jaclyn will cherish the beautiful life and celebrate his impact on the world every day. 

On May 3, 2026, Andrew died doing what he loved– sharing adventure with friends in NORRA’s Baja 1000. He leaves behind a legacy of not just what he accomplished, but of how he made people feel seen, challenged, and loved.

Born August 11, 1969, in Washington, D.C., Andrew was the son of John Tillotson Wainwright and Elizabeth Blunt Wainwright. From the beginning, he was the kind of person who arrived in a room and shifted its energy. He earned his undergraduate degree from St. Mary's College of Maryland before crossing the Atlantic to Oxford University, where he earned a Master's degree in Literature- Andrew was a man who believed a well-told story could change a life.

Andrew was a true connector. He drew people toward him the way a good fire draws a crowd, for its warmth and light. He researched everything with the zeal of someone who believed that knowing more meant doing better. He argued ideas. He laughed hard (especially at inappropriate jokes) and had zero patience for the status quo. 

He had a gift for the perfectly placed word, the disarming punchline, the impromptu gratitude meeting to lift spirits and remind us of what’s really important. He was a dreamer who pushed himself and inspired everyone around him to reach further and imagine bigger. His curiosity was insatiable, his creativity infectious, and he rarely passed up a chance to dig into a meaty debate or a controversial idea with anyone willing to keep up.

In 2002, Andrew founded Assistance in Recovery (known fondly as AiR) and became a force in the world of addiction recovery, helping addicts and their families find their footing on the long road back to themselves. He later co-founded Humankind alongside his beloved wife, Jaclyn, and together they built an organization that is transforming the lives of millions of people worldwide.

His commitment to the recovery community was personal and permanent. For the past two years, he poured himself into reviving the Monday meeting at House of Hope, his home group. He built it back because people needed it, and when someone needed support, he’d move mountains to make it happen.

When Andrew wasn't changing lives, he was chasing adventure. He built off-road vehicles, raced trucks in the desert, he fly fished, skied, played guitar, read voraciously, stopped to pet every dog, and lived for the epic family vacations with Jackie and the kids. He believed the only adventure worth chasing was one he could share with others. 

At the time of his passing, he was finishing a novel, The Amends Tour, a fictional story about the gift and adventure of recovery. It was Andrew in prose form: funny, wise, and unafraid to go somewhere true.

Andrew is survived by his wife and greatest collaborator, Jaclyn Wainwright; his children, Scout and Augie Wainwright; his mother, Elizabeth Blunt Wainwright; and his brother, Peter Wainwright and the extended family he so generously spent his time with. 

He is also survived by the millions of people his work touched, the Monday meeting he fought to bring back to life, and every person who ever walked away from a conversation with him feeling genuinely seen. Andrew left this world like he left everything he touched; better than he found it. 

In the words of his favorite band, the Grateful Dead, “Well I ain’t always right, but I’ve never been wrong. Seldom turns out the way it does in a song. Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right.” 

A celebration of Andrew’s life will be held Saturday, May 9th from 1:00 – 4:00 PM at The University Club of St. Paul. THE FORMAL PROGRAM STARTS PROMPTLY AT 2:00 PM.

*A Livestream of the program will be available for those unable to attend in person. Livestream details & link to come on Jaclyn Wainwright's LinkedIN

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Retreat in Wayzata, or if you are a friend of Bill W. please donate to AA Intergroup or show up in service of another alcoholic in his memory.