Jerry Taft Wiki – Biography
Jerry Taft was an American meteorologist who served as chief meteorologist for WLS-TV in Chicago. He worked in that role for 42 years. Taft worked at KMOL-TV (now WOAI-TV), the NBC affiliate in San Antonio, Texas, before moving to Chicago. He worked for 7 years at WMAQ-TV, Chicago’s NBC affiliate then joined ABC 7 in August 1984.
Taft also performed radio work, providing weather reports for WMAQ-AM and WLS-AM in the 1980s.
The Chicago Tribune described Taft as “one of the favorite weathermen”. 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”.
On December 20, 2017, ABC 7 Chicago announced that Taft would retire in January 2018. Taft’s last day on air, after forecasting the weather on Chicago television for 42 years, was Friday, January 19, 2018.
Taft spent one year at Georgia Tech, before working as a 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. 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. He revealed that he initially did not aspire to be a meteorologist on television. His interest in the area piqued during the time that he flew airplanes.
Jerry Taft Age
Jerry Taft was 77 years old. He was born on March 14, 1943. He died on July 23, 2020.
Wife
Taft was 19 when he married his high school sweetheart; they had their first child not long afterward. Taft went on to marry Shana, to whom he remained married until his death.
Children
Together, they had two children (Skylar and Storm). He also had two other children (Danna and Jay).
Read More: Who is Gloria Bambo? Wiki, Biography, Age, Family, Parents, Cause of Death, Investigation Report
Cause of Death
Jerry Taft Former meteorologist, who worked at ABC7 Chicago for more than 30 years, has died at 77 years old. The Chicago station reported that Taft “died peacefully” Thursday night, July 24, while surrounded by family members.
Taft began working for ABC7 in 1984 and retired in January 2018.
We are mourning the loss of Jerry Taft, who served as a meteorologist at ABC7 for 33 years. He was 77. https://t.co/awHmYfm2EA
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) July 24, 2020
Colleagues and other broadcast personalities took to social media early Friday morning to share their tributes. His name was trending on Twitter.
“I had the privilege of working alongside him for more than 20 years,” FOX 32 meteorologist Mike Caplan wrote on Facebook. “His infectious laugh and frequent giggles on air were legendary and endeared him to his audience and friends.”
Tracy Butler, the station’s current meteorologist, tweeted, “It is with a very heavy heart that I share the passing of our dear Jerry Taft with you. Jerry was instrumental in my coming to @ABC7Chicago. I can hear that laugh. Wow…I can hear that laugh. Miss you, pal. My deepest sympathy to his family.”
It is with a very heavy heart that I share the passing of our dear Jerry Taft with you. Jerry was instrumental in my coming to @ABC7Chicago I can hear that laugh. Wow…I can hear that laugh. Miss you, pal. My deepest sympathy to his family. pic.twitter.com/ZoQN91xvTL
— Tracy Butler (@TracyButlerABC7) July 24, 2020
Net Worth
Jerry’s net worth is $1.5 million.