The Mayor’s Task Force July 16, 2024 meeting began soberly, with members paying tribute to their colleague Bill Custers. Custers died on June 30.
Co-Chair Mark Stewart began the meeting by acknowledging Custers contributions to the Task Force.
Custers was foundational to getting the Task Force organized in its early days, including doing much of the drafting for the group’s engagement plan.
Joanne Santucci said, “He truly was Mr. Hamilton. He knew everything and everyone.”
“If you listen to him about building community, you know, he really, made not only access to information, that connection, but he made that connection meaningful every time he stepped out.”
“The task force is going to miss him. And really, a grateful city is really going to miss a great Hamiltonian who did nothing but bring this community together.”
Member Madeleine Verhovsek noted Custers years of service in the community, adding she was “really looking forward to learning a lot from him.”
Member Tinashe Wingfield expressed appreciation for the opportunity to meet Custers and his work with the Task Force.
“I just want to capture long, sincere condolences to the whole family. Let them know what an impact he has already had in this process.”
The Task Force had a somber discussion about the vacancy created by Custers death, and decided to not fill the seat.
Production Details v. 1.0.0 Published: August 18, 2024 Last updated: August 18, 2024 Author: Joey Coleman Update Record v. 1.0.0 original version
Bill was my boss at Cable 14 (I am a volunteer), and I learned a lot from talking to him in the short time that I was able to capture those conversations, in between my various mobile and studio duties.
Back in the 2010’s, Bill once called me Elvis because of my (then) bushy sideburns and it always made me chuckle. When I returned to volunteer again at Cable 14 in 2022, I tried to rock those side burns every time I went to the station, in hopes that Bill would remember who I was. He did, and that meant a lot.
A huge asset to have learned alongside a television wizard like Mr. Custers.