A former Common Council member who advocated for some of Buffalo's poorest neighborhoods has died.
Former Masten District Member David Collins had been hospitalized at Erie County Medical Center for a brief illness when he passed away Thursday. He was 79.
Collins served on the Council for 18 years during the mayoral days of Jimmy Griffin. Perhaps most notably, he pushed for the construction of Pilot Field - now Coca-Cola Field - and the redevelopment of War Memorial Stadium into the Johnnie B. Wiley Amateur Sports Pavilion for local high school teams.
Among his survivors are his wife and two daughters. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Luke's AME Zion Church on East Ferry Street.
