HOST: This week, WXXI is looking back at the events and people that made news in 2019.

Today, with WXXI’s Juan Vazquez, we remember some of the people we

lost.

JUAN: We start this list with a person who had a connection to an iconic Rochester company.

Neil Montanus traveled the world for Kodak, photographing the world’s most exotic locations
and some of the most beautiful and noteworthy people.

He took a picture of Walt Disney that company executives said was the best ever taken of him.

The renowned photographer died in September; he was 92.

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The Finger Lakes wine industry lost two of their own this year.

First, in March, an accident took the life of John Brahm the third. He was co-owner of Arbor Hill
Grapery and Winery. He was 76.

Then in July, Tim Moore died from cancer. Moore and his wife, Diane, started Inspire Moore
Winery in Naples a dozen years ago. Moore was 51.

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In November, the Rochester Police Department lost an officer while he was on his way to work.
Officer Manny Ortiz was driving on Empire Boulevard when he accidentally shot himself in the
leg with his own gun. He tried to drive himself to the hospital but his car swerved off the road
and into a ravine. Ortiz was 52.

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Rochester Music Hall of Famer Bat McGrath was diagnosed with cancer in December 2018,
and declined treatment because it would compromise his quality of life. So he decided to make
the most of 2019.

McGrath played two shows and released his final album, titled “Bat McGrath,” in April. Here’s
McGrath when he spoke to WXXI’s Jeff Spevak earlier this year.

McGRATH: It’s the good part, I saved the best ‘till last. You know, I have no regrets, there’s a lot
worse scenarios than the one I’m in. I mean, I’m just happy at the end of a beautiful, beautiful
life that I’m really happy I got to live.
JUAN: McGrath died in October at 73.

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Robert Forster’s acting career started here in his hometown and then moved on to Hollywood,
where he appeared in more than 100 films. He was at The Little Theatre in September 2018 for
a film screening and had fond memories of visiting the theater with his mom.

FORSTER: When she wanted to improve me as a human being, she took me to The Little for a
good movie and she took me to Lin Far’s, I believe that used to be the name of the Chinese
restaurant, right over here, down the street. It was my introduction to international food as well.
So my mother wanted me to improve myself, and that’s one of the ways, she brought me to The
Little.

JUAN: Forster died from brain cancer in October; he was 78.

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Peggy Wegman was a strong believer in early childhood education. The philanthropist, who
married Bob Wegman in 1977, worked with various schools and also was involved with St. John
Fisher College. She died in August at the age of 91.

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Also in August, Bob Witmer passed away.

The University of Rochester alumnus was also a long time trustee for the university - serving for
40 years.

Witmer was a retired partner at Nixon Peabody, and a past president of the New York State Bar
Association. Witmer was 82.

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Ken Moore was a tireless advocate for local veterans. He served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam
and worked for Monroe County’s Veterans Service Agency after a 30-year career at Kodak.
Laura Stradley was the head of the agency when Moore worked there.

STRADLEY: He just made it his life’s work to ensure that veterans were cared for, that they had
a friend, that they knew where they could turn to get guidance on benefits.

JUAN: Ken Moore died from cancer in February; he was 76.

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We also said goodbye to the man who may have been Rochester's last Pearl Harbor survivor.
Stan Hwalek was aboard the U.S.S. Nevada the day of the attack.

He died in April at age 99.

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Sam Cooper worked for Monroe County for more than 50 years, including his service as airport
director between 1972 and 1989. Cooper died in June at the age of 96.

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Two longtime political figures died in July. Richard Rosenbaum was a state supreme court
justice, and ran the state and Monroe County Republican committees. Rosenbaum was 88.

Paul Haney served as Monroe County’s finance director and had stints on City Council and the
Monroe County Legislature. Haney was 78.

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And we lost one of our own this year. Former WXXI reporter and longtime local radio personality
Bill Flynn passed away in April.

Flynn was 60, he was working on a book about Rochester radio at the time of his death.

Juan Vazquez, WXXI News.