Very sorry to hear this sad news about your co-worker, Ronald.
However, I'd like to add a thought to your thought here of: "but people really need to pay attention and watch out for motorcycles", and which is very true of course, but I think is often only half the issue here.
And what I'd like to add is the thought:
"But motorcyclists also need to always pay attention to their rear view mirrors as they slow to a stop at a red light, and until they recognize the car behind them is also slowing to a stop."
(...I know doing this very thing once allowed me to maneuver out of the lane enough to have the cager coming up behind miss me as his car didn't stop braking until he was 10 feet past the crosswalk, anyway)
