2 NKY officials die while clearing snow

Two Northern Kentucky cities are mourning the deaths of men who served for years in their communities.

Jack Fischer, longtime city attorney for the City of Dayton, and R.G. Bidwell, retired assistant fire chief for the City of Florence, both died Monday clearing snow.

Fischer died while shoveling snow Monday afternoon at his home in Dayton, according to multiple city officials. He was in his early 60s and had been the city attorney in Dayton since the 1980s, said Mayor Virgil Boruske.

"It's a great loss to the city," Boruske said. "He's been around for years and years. He's unreplaceable."

Bidwell, 72, collapsed while clearing snow in his driveway and was pronounced dead at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Florence, according to officials.

"He trained a great many firefighters across the state," said Florence Fire Chief Kelly Aylor. "It's a pretty tough day."

Dayton is reaching out to Fischer's family to find out what the city can do to memorialize him. The news of his death has hit many in his community hard.

"The mayor called me yesterday," said Dayton Councilman and Vice Mayor Ben Baker. "I'm glad I was sitting down. It took my breath away. It is such a good man that we lost."

His knowledge on city history and unbiased legal advice has been invaluable to the city, Baker said.

"It breaks my heart," Baker said. "He was a good person. We need more of him."

Fischer was also an active member of the Campbell County Democratic Party, serving as treasurer. He helped work on President Barack Obama's two presidential campaigns.

Fischer had strong Democratic convictions, which made it interesting and ironic, as he's the brother of Republican State Rep. Joe Fischer, said Paul Whalen, Campbell County Democratic chairman.

The region has lost a smart man with a wealth of knowledge, Whalen said.

"We're going to miss him," Whalen said. "He contributed a lot to the city of Dayton and to the Democratic Party. I think the legal community will miss him on many fronts as well."

Fischer's family declined comment and asked for privacy as they mourn.

Bidwell, a U.S. Marine, served 28 years as a Florence firefighter, retiring in 1999 as assistant fire chief.

But he never really left, Aylor said.

"He stopped in the fire station for morning coffee on a regular basis," Aylor said.

Bidwell was revered, and even had a coffee cup assigned to him at each Florence fire station, Aylor said.

"He will be missed."

Bidwell was serving his 25th year on the board of the Florence Fire Protection District when he died.

He has two sons who are firefighters in Northern Kentucky; Dennis Bidwell, a volunteer firefighter for Florence Fire Department, and Independence Fire Capt. John Bidwell.

Independence Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Armstrong said the Northern Kentucky firefighting community lost a great man with the death of R.G. Bidwell, and son John Bidwell was home with his family, anticipating making arrangements for his father's funeral.

"His dad was an exceptional man," Armstrong said. "He put a lot of emphasis in training."

Florence Police Capt. Tom Grau was a young police officer while Bidwell was still working as the assistant fire chief of the city.

"You definitely knew and respected his commitment to the city," Grau recalled. "I knew he'd been one of the legacy firefighters in Northern Kentucky."