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Mark Wert
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Sharon Coolidge
| Cincinnati Enquirer
Pat Barry, who worked for four decades on a series of radio and TV stations in the Cincinnati area, died of complications from COVID-19 on Saturday. He was 69 years old.
Born Barry Tingley, Barry was a popular DJ at WKRQ-FM when WLWT-TV (Channel 5) hired him to replace meteorologist Tony Sands as the main meteorologist at 6 pm and 11 pm in 1984.
Barry, who was chosen for the job even though he had no experience or training in meteorology, told the Cincy Shirts podcast in 2019 that WLWT executives wanted someone who knew Cincinnati and who he could teach about the weather. He learned of the vacancy with then-WLWT anchor (and former Cincinnati mayor) Jerry Springer, because the two frequented the District’s restaurant.
Springer had just been promoted to anchor and “that summer, I used to see him” at the Precinct restaurant, when Barry would be the emcee at promotional events on Mondays and Tuesdays, Barry said in a 1989 interview on the show ” Midnight Hour “by Waycross Community Media. Springer told Barry “we are going to make a change in the way we do the weather.” Soon Barry came for a test and two weeks later, he signed a three-year contract.
“Our ratings were terrible at first,” said Barry on the podcast. “We were terrible,” said Barry. But in two years, Springer’s team, Norma Rashid and Ken Broo were number one.
Springer, who was in the news for nine years with Barry and then a radio show with him for two years, said that Barry was chosen as a meteorologist based on his personality.
At that time, Willard Scott on Today was the best-known meteorologist nationally, a big, happy guy.
“I found a great personality,” said Springer.
When the weatherman left, instead of hiring another climate expert, Springer thought Barry could be different, like Scott.
“I looked for … the general manager,” said Springer. “He was new to the city. And I said, there is this guy, a real personality. Young people hear it on the radio. “
Barry would be perfect, Springer promised the general manager.
And he went. Although Steve Horstmeyer (then at WLWT and now FOX19) had to teach him how to make the mood, Springer said.
“People started looking at Pat as much as Norma (Rashid) and I did,” said Springer.
Barry and Springer’s friendship was a bit like the nerd and the popular guy, the latter being Barry, Springer said.
“He always teased me, because I was a bit of a nerd,” said Springer. “Whenever I had a birthday, he wished me Happy Birthday on the air, always adding a few years, knowing that I really couldn’t dispute it.”
The two became friends after the radio show, where it was Barry who taught Springer.
“We had a great time together,” said Springer.
‘One way to make everyone laugh’: Pat Barry’s career, making a difference
In the podcast, Barry noted that many TV meteorologists, such as Al Roker on “Today”, have no training in meteorology. “I must (current WXIX meteorologist Steve) Horstmeyer because I didn’t know anything when I got there,” said Barry, adding that he also took courses and studied hard.
It was also on Channel 5 that he displayed his much more sentimental side as a spokesman for the Children’s Fund Ruth Lyons. Himself childless, he would say that after many wet-eyed visits to hospitalized children to see the fruits of the funds’ efforts, which was the most important role he has ever had in his broadcast.
In 1994, WLWT dismissed Barry and he was hired by WXIX-TV (Fox 19) in 1995. The first climate anchor for the new news “19 in the Morning” in 1996, he became co-host of the program shortly. later . He left Fox 19 in 1999, but returned to the station as a weekend weather anchor during the 2000s. Barry said he spent 15 years entering and leaving WXIX.
Tricia Macke worked with Barry when she was starting in the television business.
“Pat Barry took care of the weather and always had a way of making everyone laugh, making fun of things and filling the room with his loud laugh. He gave me advice on how to make other people look good on TV just by seeing how I said something. suddenly, “she said. “We have been friends for over 30 years and it is difficult to summarize his thoughts or memories because I don’t think anyone will do him justice.”
She said Barry loved it when she compared him to Rodney Dangerfield and he loved doing his acting. She said he would text her before and during the news, offering a Cincinnati snack about that person or that person or telling me that he liked my hair parted right or left … I couldn’t believe he realized, but it was who he was. Oriented detail. He’s the raincoat of Cincinnati factoids. Say a person’s name and he or she probably not only met you at some point in your life, but will also give you a taste of who that person was. “
Macke said that Barry has always been a positive influence in his life.
“Pat was always the person I went to for advice,” she said. He had quick thinking, he was one of the best people I have ever met. I will miss him a lot! “
‘I went on the radio and worked in Ohio’
In the Waycross Community Media interview, Barry said he started radio in 1968 at the age of 16 in Springfield, Ohio, when he was finishing his first year of high school and helping a DJ at WIZE.
“I should be a band director and go to Ohio State University,” said Barry in the interview. “I somehow got on the radio and worked in Ohio and Indiana and also in Florida.”
He came to Cincinnati in 1974 to work at WSAI-AM and left in 1978 to put WOKV on the air in Hamilton. He then left after a year and a half to be program director at a Tampa station for Cincinnati’s Taft Broadcasting station for a year and a half “and then came back here with them” in Q102.
Janeen Coyle. now on WGRR-FM radio, he worked with Barry on Q-102 in the 1980s.
“Pat has always been the life of the party. He never had a cloudy day. We grew up together all these years ago and I just know that he is in heaven breaking Big Guy with his best impression of Rodney Dangerfield. We loved him and we miss him of his “big boy” smile and his even bigger heart.
During his time at WLWT, Barry also gave a talk show on WKRC-AM that was also broadcast on seven old Clear Channel stations across the country.
Barry was also heard on WLW-AM, WMOJ-FM and WDJO-AM.
Hired by WDJO in 2014, Barry told The Enquirer: “I’ve worked anywhere else. I thought I’d give these guys a chance.”
A week after leaving WDJO in 2018, Barry landed in the classic country WNKN-FM (105.9) and WNKR-FM (106.7).
“He did rock, pop, talk and old formats on the radio – and he did the weather and put on TV shows – but he was never a country music DJ,” wrote WVXU media reporter John Kiesewetter, a former critic radio and TV channels.
The list of friends was a ‘who’s who’ from Cincinnati
Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said that Barry loved Cincinnati.
“Pat Barry has been successful in several careers; mostly, I think, because he loved Cincinnati so much and that love made him dear to our people, ”said Cranley.
Barry was friends with a “who’s who” of Cincinnati’s luminaries.
Former Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken called Barry “unique”.
Luken, who worked in the media before becoming mayor, said Barry was a source of information about the city.
“He had a contagious laugh,” said Luken.
Barry was also a friend of the National Baseball Hall of Famer and former Cincinnati Reds, Johnny Bench, for several decades.
A statement from friends Dennis Janson and Bina Roy said Johnny’s three children considered Barry to be “Uncle Pat” and, without a family of his own, Barry used to spend Christmas and other holidays in the Bench enclave. Bench had been closely monitoring medical developments in recent weeks, but was still deeply saddened by the news.
“I have never met anyone who could make me laugh so wildly. Who was so appreciated by so many people. When I met him, he happily drew my attention to his license plate: ‘Big boy’ said and he was that and more”, Bench said in the statement.
“Bigger than life and the best friend anyone could wish for. A true professional in every sense of the word. He took life seriously, but always fermented it with a lot of laughter. He was my friend, a distinction I share with hundreds of other people who felt the same way. ”
A post on the website WNKN / WNKR iloveclassiccountry.com credits the relationship with teaching Barry to enjoy country music.
“In the early 1980s, Johnny was still playing and whenever the two were driving together, Johnny listened to country music on the radio. Pat has been a fan of country music ever since,” the post said.
Pat Barry guiding others as ‘a mentor and supporter’
Although he never married, Pat had a circle of friends and associates who thought of him as an older brother / defender. He was always more than willing to advise and guide young men and women who were looking for a career in broadcasting. The industry is full of Pat Barry’s pupils, his friends said.
Rich Walburg and Barry worked on Q102, although not at the same time.
Walburg met Barry when Barry, when Barry was Jim Scott’s replacement host at 700WLW, where Walburg was the executive producer on that show.
“When Pat became his friend, he was his friend for the rest of his life, said Walburg. “In recent years, he has become a mentor and supporter, helping me to navigate a new career after the broadcast. He called or texted just to check or tell a joke. I will miss his humor, warmth and kindness very much. . ”
Among those who share his admiration and thoughts about the death of Pat, another member of the Hall of Fame, retired legend of the Reds, Marty Brennaman.
“I can’t tell you how sad I am to hear about Pat’s passing. When I think of Pat Barry, I think of a guy who is always upbeat and always smiling. If you needed anything, all you had to do was ask and he would help, without asking questions. The way he made the transition is not pleasant to think about, but we can be sure that he is in a better place. Amanda and I will always love your friendship. “
Preparations for the funeral are incomplete at the moment, but donations would be encouraged to the Children’s Fund of Ruth Lyon and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Cameron Knight contributed.