It's sad news to the community. KEY News has learned that Father Virgil Cordano, at the Old Santa Barbara Mission, has died at the age of 89. Father Cordano, we're told, had his family at his side, when he passed away on Thursday. The well-known local leader of the Catholic Church had been ill for some time, and prayers had been said for him... but he lost his battle with cancer today. Besides being a spiritual leader for decades locally, he was an author and historian. You also saw him every year as he participated in KEYT's coverage of Fiesta Pequena, at the Old Mission. Stay tuned to KEYT for more on the passing of Father Virgil.