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Shana Taft Wiki – Biography
Shana Taft is the wife of Jerry Taft, a former meteorologist who worked at ABC7 Chicago from August 1984 until when he retired in January 2018. He 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.
Shana Taft Age
Shana Taft’s age is unclear. However, her husband Jerry Taft was born on March 14, 1943, and died on July 23, 2020, aged 77.
Jerry Taft Wife Shana Taft
Jerry Taft was married to his wife Shana Taft at the time of his death. He was previously married to his high school sweetheart.
Children
Jerry Taft and his wife Shana Taft had two children: Skylar and Storm. Taft also had two other children: Danna and Jay.
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Jerry Taft Death
Jerry Taft died on July 23, 2020, at age 77, surrounded by family members. He is survived by his wife Shana and his children Skylar, Storm, Dana, and Jay.
Following the news of his death, FOX 32 meteorologist Mike Caplan wrote on Facebook: “I awoke to some very sad news this morning. Jerry Taft has passed away. I had the privilege of working along side him for more than 20 years. His infectious laugh and frequent giggle fests on air were legendary and endeared him to his audience and friends. He led a full and robust life. Served our country in the Air Force. Was basically a scratch golfer. And most importantly had a wonderful family.
“He was a master story teller and decorum prevents me from sharing most of them here. My sincere condolences to Shana and the rest of the Taft family.”