Willie W. Lightfoot
June 10, 1940 - April 23, 2001

Willie Lightfoot - “Keeper of the Avenue”
 
Community Champion Lightfoot Dies at 60

Willie Lightfoot Throughout the Years

The Honorable Willie Walker Lightfoot, a native of Huntsville, Alabama was the youngest of three children born to the union of Mary Frances and Thomas Lightfoot. Their grandparents, John and Mary Davis, raised him and his two brothers, Frederick and Joe Louis Lightfoot.

In 1954 Willie's family decided to stay in Rochester, where they moved to 491 Jefferson Avenue. Willie began his lifelong interest in music as a teenager. It was not uncommon for him to put the speakers from his family’s new stereo into the windows, turn up the volume and play his favorite tunes like Ray Charles, BB King, Coltrane and Cannonball for the whole street to hear.

In 1956, Willie started school at Madison High. His other lifelong interest, sports, began as a young man, as he participated in track, field, football and basketball. Willie graduated from Madison in 1959, attended college in Mississippi, and in the early 60’s worked as a machine operator at Xerox. He continued to satisfy his love of music as a frequent visitor to the Pythodd and other clubs.

The 60’s were a time of much change, and it was then that Willie began to see a different path; a path towards community activism, community organizing and politics. He helped form the Monroe County Community Organizers. This group provided many services to the Jefferson Avenue area, and by the time the 70’s began, Willie realized his dream of creating a place where people, music and ideas could come together - The People’s Club. The Monroe County Community Organizers (MCCO) turned an abandon building on Jefferson Avenue into a place for people to gather much as they did at the Pythodd during this era. In his personal life, Willie also started a family, and his two children Shirah and Willie Joe (Billie Joe) were born.

By the mid 70’s at the age of 28, Willie had become President of ABC, then became a community organizer at Montgomery Center. He realized that organization was key to better conditions on the Avenue, and formed the Third Ward Neighborhood Association. By 1979 this organization had been renamed the SouthWest Area Neighborhood Association or SWAN. Willie also began to think seriously about seeking elective office. One of his favorite sayings was “Politics is everything, and everything is politics”. He ran successfully for County Legislator of the 25th district, a position he held almost continuously across four decades.

In the 80’s SWAN continued to grow and was incorporated in 1982. As executive director of SWAN, Willie continued to focus the organization on providing services for the youth in the community. In 1983, a tremendous change took place that galvanized Willie into action - his beloved alma mater Madison was demolished...the victim of poor student results, and an aging building period. Willie pledged that one day a new school would rise on the site of the old school. After working in the SouthWest neighborhood for the City, Sally Steinwachs joined SWAN in 1988, and since that time has been Willies inseparable partner.

SWAN continued to expand, and in 1991 open the Bridge. Through the 90’s change was once again in the air. Rochester elected a new mayor for the first time in twenty years. Mayor Johnson pledged to give the citizens a greater voice in their destiny. This was music to Willies ears but first he had to meet with his new mayor and see if he was really serious about this “neighbors building neighborhoods”. Two other big changes took place in the 90’s. First, Willie became a grandfather. He now has six grandchildren. Second, the city school district agreed to construct a new SouthWest middle school. Three sites were proposed, but in Willie’s mind there was never any contest. He called the site of the former Madison High School, “Holy Ground” and lobbied for that site. The new school was completed therein 1998, and in the process led by Willie was named the James Madison School of Excellence. The UNCGR Foundation has approached the Sector 4 common council with $1.6 million dollars for a community center. SWAN was ultimately chosen to be the lead agency, and the SouthWest Community Center became a new center for SWAN’s activities.

Additionally, his life-long interests in music led him to take up the Alto Sax. Rather than play alone he worked to form a band - the SWAN Community Band, which has the honor of playing at several auspicious political and community events throughout the New York State. The SWAN band is multi-cultural, with members ranging from age (8 to 88).

Athlete, community leader, father, elected official, friend, grandfather, musician, mentor... for over 50 years, Willie has been a strong voice for SouthWest Rochester, and the “Keeper of the Avenue”, Willie gave his life to Christ on April 20th, 2001 and again on April 21st, 2001 making sure heaven would be his final home prior to departing this life on Monday, April 23rd, 2001 at 10:40am. Willie was predeceased by his parents Thomas and Mary Frances Lightfoot, and is survived by: his friend and companion, Sally Steinwachs, of Rochester, New York; two children: son, Willie Joe Lightfoot (Verdina), of Rochester, New York and daughter, Shirah Renee Pope (Johnny), of Richmond, VA; two brothers, Frederick Lightfoot (MaryAnn), of Rochester, New York and Joe Lewis Lightfoot of New Orleans, LA; six grandchildren: Daryl, Kevin, Dominique, Precious, Alexis and Willie Joe Jr.; three nephews, one niece, aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and a host of special friends.