Joe DeNardo
Joe DeNardo
Born
Joseph William DeNardo
(1930-11-27)November 27, 1930
Martins Ferry, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJune 15, 2018(2018-06-15) (aged 87)
Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Education
Occupations
  • Television personality
  • weather forecaster
Military career
AllegianceUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
Service years1952–1956

Joseph William DeNardo (November 27, 1930 – June 15, 2018) was an Americanmeteorologist who worked at WTAE in Pittsburgh.[1] He gained widespread recognition through his 1994 advertising campaign, “Joe Said It Would.”[2] DeNardo lived in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, with his wife of nearly 60 years. After retiring in 2005, following a 45-year on-air career, he remained a popular figure among many Pittsburgh residents.[3]

Early life and education

DeNardo was born and raised in Martins Ferry, Ohio.[4] He attended Wheeling Central Catholic High School in Wheeling, West Virginia. While at Wheeling Central, he maintained a 4.0 GPA and earned a place on the All-State basketball team in both his junior and senior years. His nickname on the team was “The Flash,” a reference to his speed on the court.[5]

DeNardo graduated from Duquesne University in 1952 with a major in mathematics and physics. He was president of the Alpha Phi Delta fraternity. In 1953, he received a Master's in Meteorology from the University of Chicago.[6]

Outside of his professional career, he was an avid model railroad hobbyist.[7]

Career

DeNardo began his career in the United States Air Force, where he served for four years, and he eventually commanded the weather detachment at Greater Pittsburgh Air Force Base.[4] He was honorably discharged in 1956.

In 1957, he and his friend David G. McFarland, whom he met in the Air Force, opened DeNardo and McFarland Weather Services, located at the Allegheny County Airport. They sold weather forecasts to the Pittsburgh corporate aviation community, private aviation services, gas and electric utilities, construction companies, and local radio stations. The company also had a contract with Allegheny County, Pennsylvania to consult on air quality issues.[8] Many of the National Weather Service (NWS) personnel located at the airport worked part-time for DeNardo & McFarland.

After a new manager took over, DeNardo left KDKA, citing the unpleasant atmosphere.[4] DeNardo then joined WTAE in 1969, bringing his news anchor partner Paul Long with him, continuing their banter when Long would introduce DeNardo for the weather segment of the news. DeNardo's popularity at WTAE was the focus of an advertising campaign.[9]

DeNardo retired from WTAE-TV on January 1, 2005. He remained a presence on the station for fundraising efforts and continued to deliver his annual "Winter Weather Forecast" on WTAE-TV until 2009.

During the 2014 North American cold wave, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review interviewed DeNardo about his life and his opinion on the state of weather reporting nearly a decade after his retirement.[10]

Community work

DeNardo was known for his charitable work in the community. He would visit schools every Wednesday "with the exception of holidays," often arriving via helicopter and presenting an assembly for the children. In addition to school visits, DeNardo contributed to The Salvation Army and other causes. WTAE-TV hosted two annual charitable events that donated to The Salvation Army: the Project Bundle-Up Auction (which continues to this day) and the Bundle-Up Telethon.[11]

References

  1. ^Owen, Rob (20 August 1998). "A Sunny Forecast Joe Denardo Rests At Home, Expects To Be Back On The Air Sept. 30". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. E5. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  2. ^"WTAE Flashback: Joe Said It Would". WTAE-TV. November 30, 2012. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  3. ^Rutkoski, Rex (September 19, 2011). "DeNardo, Kudzma downplay their forecasting roles". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved May 19, 2013. During that time, they were the weather for many Pittsburghers. Today, the two meteorologists downplay their icon status.
  4. ^ abcLeonard, Vince (November 22, 1968). "DeNardo Quits Over Climate At Channel 2". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  5. ^"Beloved Pittsburgh weatherman Joe DeNardo dies". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  6. ^"Joe DeNardo: WTAE, chief meteorologist". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. February 9, 2003. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  7. ^Fanning, Win (June 13, 1978). "The Weatherman's Railroad". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  8. ^"DeNardo Backs Duquesne Light's Better-Air Plans". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. February 27, 1973. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  9. ^"DeNardo's The Name. Weather is his game!". The Pittsburgh Press. February 24, 1970. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  10. ^Heyl, Eric (January 8, 2014). "Heyl: Joe said it would ... be great if we cooled it". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  11. ^"Arc to Honor Joe Denardo". Observer-Reporter. March 1, 1999. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
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