Mike Hedeen, our longtime colleague and friend, passed away on May 2nd. He was 64 years old.

"Mo," as he was affectionately called in our newsroom, worked with us for 28 years. It is a sad time here and we send our condolences to Mike's family. He's survived by Trish, his wife of nearly 31 years, his son Dan and daughter Kristen, his son-in-law Dave and his granddaughter Harper.

Calling hours will be on Tuesday May 8th at DiPonzio Funeral Home from 3 to 7 p.m. Services & Interment are private. Donations can be made to Wilmot Cancer Center in his memory. 

Mike's on-air career began in sports, which began at KBJR in his hometown of Duluth, Minnesota. There he covered the 1976 Silver Broom World Curling Championships, then after moving across town to WDIO as sports director, he called play-by-play for the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. Mike also worked for network affiliates in Green Bay, Wisconsin and Waterloo, Iowa.

Once in Rochester, Mike covered everything from the 1995 Ryder Cup, to several LPGA Championships, to sought-after basketball recruits as they dominated high school competition, to an Amerks Calder Cup run.

In 2006, Mike took on the challenge of news reporting, meeting some of our community's most inspiration people, from Jason MacElwain to Anthony DiPonzio, and sharing their stories. He retired one year ago to acclaim from his colleagues and community.

Mike has garnered many awards form his days in sports including the Rochester Press-Radio Club’s Gary Smith Award as Sportscaster of the Year, the Rochester Red Wings/American Legion Sports Reporter of the Year and the Section V Soccer Media Awards.

Mike was on the board of directors at the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester and always collected toys to make the holidays special for kids.

Mo, you are truly missed by all of us here at Spectrum News.