Rochester Loses Victor Saunders, Voice for Nonviolence and Youth Empowerment

Victor Saunders, a steadfast advocate for youth and community safety in Rochester and a top advisor to Mayor Malik Evans, has died, city officials confirmed Friday.

Victor Saunders

Saunders served as the City’s Advisor for Violence Prevention, playing a pivotal role in launching the Office of Violence Prevention, the Rochester Peace Collective, and expanding the Pathways to Peace program. His decades-long career was devoted to reducing gun violence and supporting at-risk youth through early intervention, mentorship, and strategic outreach.

In a statement, Mayor Evans expressed deep sorrow over Saunders’ passing.

“My heart is broken, but I am grateful that I had the opportunity to spend his final moments with him and his beloved family,” Evans said. “Victor was instrumental in helping me launch the Office of Violence Prevention, the Rochester Peace Collective, and expanding the Pathways to Peace Program. Our community has lost a committed public servant who dedicated his life to the cause of peace and community uplift. He lived his life modeling the words of the great hymn, ‘May the Works I've Done Speak for Me.’ Victor has done great works, and my thoughts and prayers are with his wonderful family, friends and colleagues who loved him so.”

In a 2022 interview, Saunders described his multifaceted plan to curb violence in Rochester, which included aligning with grassroots violence prevention organizations, developing a data-driven strategy, and identifying systemic gaps. He stressed that underlying issues such as poverty, food insecurity, and structural racism contributed to the cycle of violence.

“We have a lot of wounded children in our community—psychological, social-emotional—and they need our help,” Saunders said during a community meeting that year.

Details regarding Saunders’ death, including the cause, have not been released. Plans for public memorials have not yet been announced.

Saunders is remembered by colleagues, city leaders, and residents alike as a tireless public servant whose life’s work left a lasting impact on Rochester's most vulnerable communities.