Jerry Taft

Jerry Taft (March 14, 1943[1] – July 23, 2020) was an American meteorologist and weather presenter who served as chief meteorologist for WLS-TV in Chicago. He worked for 34 years with WLS, and for 42 years as a broadcast meteorologist in the Chicago media market.

For the American television anchorman, see Jerry Taff.

Jerry Taft
Born(1943-03-14)March 14, 1943
DiedJuly 23, 2020(2020-07-23) (aged 77)
Chicago, Illinois
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
Years active1976–2018

Early life

Taft spent one year at Georgia Tech, before working as radar technician for the United States Air Force in Iowa. After studying at Wartburg College for one year, he got accepted into the Airman Education and Commissioning Program, which sent him to the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[2] During his time there, he became a pilot and fought in the Vietnam War for a year. He eventually obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology from that institution in 1969.[2][3] He revealed that he had not initially aspired to be a television meteorologist. His interest in the area was piqued during his time as a military pilot, when he was involved in a TV feature, flying with San Antonio weatherman Maclovio Perez of NBC affiliate KMOL-TV.[4][5]

Career

Taft worked at KMOL-TV (now WOAI-TV) before moving to Chicago.[2][6] He worked for 7 years at WMAQ-TV, Chicago's NBC affiliate then joined WLS-TV (ABC 7) in August 1984.[2]

Taft also performed radio work, providing weather reports for WMAQ-AM and WLS-AM in the 1980s.[7]

The Chicago Tribune described Taft as "one of [their] favorite weathermen".[8] He finished second to WBBM-TV's Steve Baskerville and ahead of Tom Skilling in a 1997 Chicago Sun-Times reader poll about Chicago meteorologists. Participants noted Taft's "no-nonsense delivery".[9]

On December 20, 2017, ABC 7 Chicago announced that Taft would retire in January 2018. Taft's last day on air, after forecasting weather on Chicago television for 42 years, was Friday, January 19, 2018.[10]

Personal life

Taft was 19 when he married his high school sweetheart; they had their first child not long afterwards.[2]

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Taft moved to Naples, Florida after his retirement with ABC 7 Chicago and worked as a part-time Uber driver. He earned $84.61 on his first day.[11]

Taft died on July 23, 2020, in Chicago, at the age of 77.[4] He is survived by his wife Shana.[4] His children are Skylar, Storm, Danna and Jay.[4]

References
  1. Foster, Stella (March 12, 2009). "Dr. Phil helps Octomom". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 22.
  2. Luevano, Amanda (August 3, 2012). "ABC Meteorologist Jerry Taft Talks Weather, Military Service with Lemont Rotary Club". Patch. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  3. "Familiar faces". Daily Herald. March 21, 2001. p. 5.
  4. "Jerry Taft, ABC7 meteorologist for 33 years, dies at 77". WLS-TV. July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  5. Retired meteorologist Jerry Taft, ‘the face of ABC 7 weather’ for more than 3 decades, dies at 77 Chicago Tribune. 24 July 2020 (Retrieved 19 August 2020)
  6. "This gal didn't fall for lines". San Antonio Express-News. December 6, 1976. p. 17. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  7. Feder, Robert (April 23, 1987). "Ch. 7's Deshler, Taft to forecast for radio". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 74.
  8. Bannon, Tim (December 1, 2007). "One fine day". Chicago Tribune. p. Weekend, 1.
  9. "Weather Forecaster". Chicago Sun-Times. August 17, 1997. p. 14.
  10. "ABC7's Jerry Taft to retire in January 2018". WLS-TV. December 20, 2017. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  11. "New job title for ex-weatherman Jerry Taft: Uber driver". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
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