Bill Nojay was born and raised in Rochester, New York, where his father worked at Eastman Kodak. His surname was originally “Nogaj”, but he changed the spelling to match the pronunciation. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and graduated from Columbia University with degrees from their law school and business school. In 1996, Nojay was appointed by Governor George Pataki as commissioner of the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority. He would also serve on the Executive Committee of the Genesee Transportation Council and as chairman of the Regional Trails Initiative Steering Committee for the Rochester region. He later served as chief operating officer of Detroit’s transportation system under Detroit Mayor Dave Bing. Bill Nojay also had a long history of support for international democratic movements. He worked in Nepal, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Libya. He also worked extensively inside Cambodia on behalf of the Khmer People’s National Liberation Front. He was the director and secretary treasurer of the Foundation for Democracy in Iran, a group that advocates for democracy in Iran.

After redistricting Bill Nojay challenged and defeated Steuben County Legislator Randy Weaver winning a vacant seat in the newly created 133rd Assembly District. He also hosted a regionally syndicated conservative talk radio show, which predates his election to the state legislature. The program originated from WYSL. On September 9, 2016, a police officer responding to a call about a distraught man at Riverside Cemetery in Rochester, New York witnessed Nojay commit suicide by shooting himself near his family plot. He was due in court that day to face fraud charges, subsequently sealed, related to his legal work.