NORFOLK, Va. — As Hampton Roads rings in the New Year, 13News Now takes a moment to remember some local leaders and legends that the region lost in 2023.
Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network and Regent University, died at age 93 on June 8. He briefly ran for president and is credited with having a major influence on religion becoming central to Republican Party politics in America.
"I just know him as one of the most likable people, but he also not only inspired me, but he was also there for me when I had some tough times to get through, he was the go-to guy," said Virginia Beach Mayor Bob Dyer.
In August, Hampton Roads said goodbye to a legendary Navy pilot and a familiar face to 13News Now viewers. Retired Rear Admiral Fred Metz served four combat tours in Vietnam and appeared on WVEC newscasts dozens of times over the past two decades. Metz was 87 years old.
U.S. District Court Judge Robert Doumar died at the age of 93 on Nov. 4. He was nominated to the bench in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan.
During his four decades there, the colorful jurist presided over countless major cases, including ordering Sudan to pay $8 million to the families of the sailors killed in the bombing of the USS Cole.
Clarence "Clancy" Holland was a doctor who served as Mayor of Virginia Beach in the mid-1970s. He went on to become a State Senator. Holland passed away on Nov. 11 at the age of 94.
"Clancy cared about people. He was a people person, Typically, he never met a stranger. He liked people. I think people gravitated to Clancy. He made you feel comfortable. And with that personality, he was able to accomplish a lot for the City of Virginia Beach. I loved Clancy, and everybody is going to miss him. This city is going to miss him," said former State Senator Sonny Stallings.
Former Old Dominion University men's basketball coach Paul Webb died at 94 years old on Dec. 8. Webb retired in 1985 as the country's 6th winningest coach collegiate basketball coach.
"Soft-spoken, never used profanity, got his point across, and we had fun," said former ODU basketball player Billy Mann.
Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame member Joe Hoppel was one of Hampton Roads' longest-serving radio DJs who worked at WCMS for over 48 years before retiring in 2003. Hoppel was 89 when he recently passed on Dec. 27.
And a little closer to home, the 13News Now family lost a beloved photographer of more than 20 years and founder of the "Holiday Salute" project, Bryan Barbee.
"If you got assigned Bryan, you knew you were going to have a good time and great quality work. The guy just churned and burned every assignment," said former WVEC reporter Joe Flanagan.
And it wasn't just people that the area said goodbye to.
The Navy rendered final honors for a legendary warship: the USS San Jacinto. The Norfolk-based guided missile cruiser was decommissioned in September after more than 35 years of service.