Republican State Assembly member Bill Nojay is dead after he apparently commited suicide in a Rochester cemetery.
The Rochester Police Department says that it responded to a call around 9:30 a.m. for a welfare check on a person in Riverside Cemetery on Lake Avenue. One of the responding officers saw a man shoot himself.
This afternoon, police confirmed that the man was Nojay, 59, of Pittsford. The department initially withheld his identification pending notification of his family; that’s a typical practice for law enforcement regarding any death.
Nojay, a staunch conservative, was running for re-election and faced a primary challenge from Honeoye Falls Mayor Rick Milne. The election is Tuesday.
“I was saddened and shocked to hear the news of Assemblyman Nojay’s passing and I offer my deepest condolences to the Nojay family during this difficult time,” Monroe County Republican Committee Chair Bill Reilich said in a statement. “Bill Nojay had a great passion for public service and served the residents of the 133rd Assembly District with great conviction. His sudden passing comes as a surprise to those who knew him well. In recent days he had been speaking with great enthusiasm about his upcoming primary and his overall excitement for this year’s election.”
This post has been updated throughout the day.
This article appears in Sep 7-13, 2016.
I forced myself to periodically listen to Bill Nojay just to see if I could find any shred of common ground. Sadly, much of Nojay’s thoughts and words were totally alien to me. I didn’t know the world he spoke of.
Mostly, I shocked by the hate and intolerance he spewed on the radio. I feared how his words would influence and negatively impact others.
I don’t know if it is ironic or fitting that a staunch gun advocate took his own life with a gun. I wish their were fewer guns out there. I wish guns weren’t the easy and instant method of suicide that they are.
Maybe Bill Nojay’s friends and family can build a lasting positive legacy highlighting suicide and guns.
I listened to his show often and he presented a very realistic view of NYS government.
I didn’t hear hatred just someone reporting an accurate account of how politicians operate.
I was aware of the allegations that had been made against him and thought if they were true that it would put him in the same group as those he criticized.
That said I do not know if he did anything wrong and have deep sympathy for his family.
Tom Janowski,
Your comments are ill informed, insensitive, and inappropriate! Bill Nojay, though you may not have liked his political beliefs, worked hard for this community over many years. It is hard to imagine that you believe that it is okay for you to post your vile thoughts for all of us to have to read when someone has obviously chosen to end his life. Hate and intolerance on Nojay’s part? No, Mr. Janowski, your post fits those categories!
My comments were about Nojay’s radio show, not his time in public office. I heard enough of his radio show to recognise his intolerance and hate . I stand by my comments,–they are my truth.
Tom Janowski,
It is funny, but, I listened to Bill Nojay, I read his posts on social media, I followed his career, and I knew him personally. I have heard him speak of why the Safe Act should be repealed, why he was opposed to the Governor and his policies, why he was offended about ignoring upstate. But, I never heard him say anything hateful or intolerant, in fact, I know one of his friends who came out and Bill supported him every step!
But, I also went back and read many of your posts on this site. Angry and hateful are not terms that should be associated with Bill Nojay…I invite people to read your posts and come to their own conclusions.