RIP Harry Volkman- He Was Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

I wanted to add my condolences to those of the many fans and friends of Harry Volkman, a legend in Chicago and weather broadcasting. I have known Harry for many years, having gone to school with his sons, and always appreciated his warmth, knowledge and fine sense of humor.

He was always wonderfully encouraging to me- always with a kind word, always with some little joke. I always felt I should apologize to him ( as well as Tom Skilling) for my stint as a TV weatherman, but he always brushed that off, saying he enjoyed the job I did- just as I enjoyed his weathercasts, with every "whoosh!" and explanations of weather phenomena. I heard someone on the radio say that he was "Skilling before Skilling"- and, not to take anything away from my friend Tom- Harry was indeed the premier weatherman in Chicago.

He was an old-school professional, a role model, and a fine man. I send my best wishes to his sons, my friends  Eddie, Jerry, and Ron- as well as to his daughter and wife. Our lives have become partly cloudy with his passing.