HARRY VOLKMAN

   Harry Volkman was everybody's friend.
   In the days before Doppler, Skilling and green screen technology it was Mr.Volkman, whose skill and accuracy, combined with an everyman personality radiating warmth no matter what the temperature outside, who was the last word in weather.

     We lost Mr. Volkman  tonight. God Bless his family and deep condolences to them.

    I don't think I'd ever heard the word "boutanierre" before Mr.Volkman started sporting them on his lapel, gifts from the schools and organizations he took the time to visit almost daily. And how proud the folks he visited were when Mr.Volkman began his report by mentioning the school that had given him the flower. He enjoyed wild popularity for many reasons and one was that his forecasts were never dull. There were "whooshes" as a cold front prepared to sweep in and an arsenal of verbal sound effects that Mr.Volkman enjoyed as much as the viewer. And he would sometimes toss in a pun that would make the anchor team groan.

     While some in his line of work used severe weather events to alarm viewers into watching, Mr.Volkman was a calming presence in those situations. While he advised caution, he would more often than not but a reassuring spin on such incidents  I know of several times he took phone calls in his office from a mother calling on behalf of her frightened child, scared of the encroaching storm. He would tell that mom her child need not be afraid as in most cases the danger was not great and the storm would soon pass. Just like in life!

       My interest in weather began when I was 7 and was fostered by Mr.Volkman.  Through old fashioned snail mail and an infrequent phone call, Mr Volkman and I staid in scattered touch over the years . During the 80's I contacted him about appearing at a fest being sponsored by our local parish. I was shocked that he remembered who I was. He came out, hugged my mom and said some very nice things about her son. And even after his broadcast days were done, he appeared at parish events that I chaired and stole the show.

       Before the comedy production that my group, The Harlem Nights Players perform annually, I am fortunate enough to be able to interview the guests kind enough to come show their support for the parish.  On the occasions Mr.Volkman visited I needed to have no questions prepared. All I would say to Mr. Volkman is "How are you?" and then sit back and listen to his stories about his days in the service, his family, behind the scenes stories from his broadcast career and of course, plenty of comedy. He was a master storyteller and a gifted humorist enthralling the audience with his wit and charm . He's the only guest we've had that I actually had to cut off as the hour grew late and the show was yet to begin. I regretted that as Mr.Volkman may have been more entertaining than the show...at the very least a tough act to follow. Those interviews are safely stored on DVD and I will watch them again in the coming days. A guy like myself sitting there with a legend. What a blessing.

      Mr.Volkman , as our other guests, was free to leave after the interview but he stuck around! Once he introduced his audience to his niece and she came on stage and sang for our audience. Another time, while watching the comedy show we were doing where we featured our own fictional weather forecaster, Mr.Volkman took the stage of his own volition and told our character he was doing it all wrong. Our audience was thrilled and it remains one of the great moments in the history of our many shows. This was a man who enjoyed life and made ours happier in the process.

       Mr.Volkman was so proud of his family. He had stories about all of them and one of his sons, Eddie, himself a media star , joined us before the show last April. He is as bright and engaging as his dad and he shared some wonderful stories. Our condolences to Eddie and his entire family. While we have lost a legend they have lost a father, father in law, grandfather and more.

        I didn't know Harry Volkman much better than you did. While we weren't good friends he always made me feel special by just remembering me from childhood to present and I was always in awe of him.He was such a nice, humble man with a winning smile and wonderful sense of humor.

         Now on the other side of the clouds he watched for years, the name Harry Volkman will live on in Chicago broadcast history for decades and decades to come.

           Rest well, Mr.Volkman.