Brian Sharp, and Joseph Spector

Democrat and Chronicle

A police officer saw the Pittsford assemblyman kill himself in Riverside Cemetery Friday morning.

Nojay was due in federal court later Friday to face fraud charges related to a trust fund he handled as an attorney.

His primary opponent and a Democratic challenger suspended their campaigns after hearing the news.

The greater Rochester area was stunned Friday by the sudden death of long-serving public official Bill Nojay, just days before the Republican primary in his bid for re-election to the state Assembly.

Nojay shot and killed himself Friday morning just steps from graves in his family's burial plot at Riverside Cemetery on Lake Avenue in Rochester.

A police officer went to the cemetery at 9:22 a.m. in response to a report of a man believed to be distraught. The responding officer arrived four minutes later and saw Nojay die of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Rochester Police Investigator Frank Camp.

Nojay, 59, who is married and has three children, took his life under a large maple tree shadowing the grave of his brother, Robert W. Nogaj, who died in 1999, and the headstones of his parents, Norman and Katherine, who are still living. The family plot sits across from a section of the cemetery reserved for children. Nojay was due in federal court later Friday to face fraud charges related to a trust fund he handled as an attorney.

An SUV was towed from the cemetery shortly before a news conference began about noon. Camp declined to say whether it was Nojay's vehicle.

Bill Reilich, the Monroe County Republican chairman, received a call from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office Friday morning notifying him that Nojay was dead.

"It’s tragic news," Reilich said. "It’s terrible to hear this about anybody, but certainly somebody who has been a public servant and somebody who I personally knew."

Nojay, R-Pittsford, was first elected to the Assembly in 2012 and has been an outspoken voice for upstate interests, especially small-business concerns and leading efforts to repeal the SAFE Act. His district covered Pittsford, Wheatland, Rush and Mendon; all of Livingston County; and part of Steuben County.

He was well-known in political circles throughout New York state, especially this year when he took a regional lead in campaigning for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

“Bill Nojay was as conservative as they come, a reliable voice for those values against the greatest odds,” said Michael Caputo, director of Trump's New York state GOP primary campaign. “He was also one of the first electeds in New York to identify Donald Trump's message as one America would respond to. And he was indefatigable, which makes this news even more shocking.”

He was facing a GOP primary Tuesday and had a major fundraiser planned for Saturday. Reilich said that Nojay was upbeat heading into the election and "always anticipated he would do well." Reilich was already on the phone Friday morning with election officials to sort out what might happen with the primary.

Nojay's name will still be on Tuesday's Republican primary ballot. If he wins, party leaders in the three-county district would have 10 days to nominate a replacement for the November ballot, state elections officials said.

Also, Nojay had secured three minor-party lines on the November ballot: Conservative, Independence and Reform. Those parties, too, will have 10 days to pick a new candidate for the Nov. 8 general election, according to elections officials.

His opponent in the primary, Honeoye Falls Mayor Richard Milne, posted a message on Facebook that he was "suspending all political activity until further notice" and trying to pull down his campaign radio ads. He declined comment when reached by phone, other than to say, "I'm devastated. I really am. This is just a terrible, terrible day."

Monroe County Democrats and, specifically, Barbara Baer, the Democratic candidate for the 133rd Assembly seat, issued a statement that they, too, were temporarily suspending the campaign in the district while calling Nojay "a passionate advocate for upstate" and "a kind and smart man who was a pleasure to see on the campaign trail."

But Nojay was far from just a politician. He had deep roots in the Rochester-area community.

Jason Longo of Rochester worked with Nojay a decade ago at Pittsford Volunteer Ambulance.

“We had endless conversations, and he always had so much insight,” Longo said.

On Facebook, Longo wrote, “I hope you have found peace and solace on the other side my friend. Godspeed.”

In addition to his political and legal career, Nojay hosted a daily, hourlong radio program weekdays on WYSL-FM (92.1) and WYSL-AM (1040) from 1 to 2 p.m. He was in the station’s studios in Avon for Thursday’s show.

News of his death shook station employees. His Friday time slot was filled with a taped, locally produced show, Valor Radio.

“We are overwhelmed with incomprehension, confusion and emotions assailing us from all sides,” WYSL president and chief executive officer Bob Savage said in a statement. “One thing, and one thing only, is evident: Bill’s departure is an unfathomable tragedy, a waste of monumental talent, conviction and patriotism which will leave a vacuum far more than nature will abhor.”

U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, issued a statement that read: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of New York State Assemblyman Bill Nojay. He was our friend. We will remember him for his dedication and commitment to public service and our community. Bill was a commendable leader. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Debra, and his three children. He will be deeply missed.

And from Sen. Rich Funke, R-Perinton: “A loss like this transcends politics and government, leaving only hollowness and heartbreak in its wake. Assemblyman Nojay was always a strong voice for upstate who dedicated a great deal of his life to championing a core set of beliefs, whether in elected office or over the airwaves. My thoughts are with Bill’s family, friends, and constituents on this most difficult of days.”

Reilich, who has known Nojay for 20 years, and served with him in the Assembly, spoke of his former colleague as "outspoken on issues on the floor, but also mindful. ... He articulated issues with a high degree of intelligence in a very professional way," earning him the respect of colleagues.

One of those was Assemblyman David Gantt, D-Rochester.

"He was a great guy. He believed in giving everybody an opportunity," Gantt said. "That’s why he and I we were great friends. Even though I am a liberal, and he was a staunch conservative. He was an honest and open guy who believed in people getting a fair shake."

Previously, Nojay served as chairman of the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority.

Nojay was born Nov. 24, 1956. He grew up on the city’s east side on Furlong Street and went to School 22 — the site of his self-described “first act of political rebellion,” when he started a petition drive after the school fenced off an area of a playground that had been available to students so that it could be used by teachers.

His father, Norman Nogaj, was a finance manager for Eastman Kodak Co. His mother, Kay, was a teacher. His older brother Rob, who was severely disabled, died in 1999. He would later change his last name from Nogaj to Nojay because that is how his birth name is pronounced.

For junior and senior high, Nojay transferred to The Harley School, a private school in Brighton. There he played sports, headed the high school debate team ("He was pretty good at that; wasn't too good at baseball,'' his father said), chaired the ``Walk for Water'' fundraiser and interned in the office of then-Mayor Thomas P. Ryan Jr., a Democrat.

In the summers, Nojay visited Europe, the Middle East and Asia as an exchange student. That affinity for travel was key to a friendship years later.

Nojay earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science from Colgate University, and a law degree and MBA from Columbia University.

In a 2003 Democrat and Chronicle profile, Nojay talked about his outlook on life, saying: “You can't be distracted or discouraged by naysayers. You have to keep working toward your goals.''

And others spoke similarly of him, including former Monroe County Democratic Party chairman Ted O’Brien: “He's a person who operates with a single-mindedness of purpose. If you disagree, he is not one who is easily inclined to change his mind. It's not that he's self-promoting. He takes on tasks with a kind of zeal.''

BSHARP@Gannett.com

JSPECTOR@Gannett.com

Includes reporting by staff writers Meaghan McDermott, Kevin Oklobzija and Jeff DiVeronica; and by the USA TODAY Network's David Jackson.

Bill Nojay: A look back at his life and career