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Mark is worth
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Sharon Coolidge
| Cincinnati Enquirer
Pat Barry, who worked four decades at an array of Cincinnati-area TV and radio stations, 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 senior meteorologist at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. in 1984.
Barry, who was selected 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 they could teach Cincinnati to. weather. He learned of the job opening from former WLWT presenter Jerry Springer (and former mayor of Cincinnati), as they both frequented the Precinct restaurant.
Springer had just been promoted to anchor and “that summer I saw him outside” at the Precinct restaurant, when Barry was hosting promotional events on Mondays and Tuesdays, Barry said in a 1989 interview on the show “Midnight Hour. “from Waycross Community Media. Springer told Barry “we’re going to make a change in the way we do the weather.” Soon Barry came for an audition and two weeks later he had signed a three year contract.
“Our ratings were horrible at the start,” Barry said on the podcast. “We’ve been terrible,” Barry said. But in two years, the team of Springer, Norma Rashid and Ken Broo was No.1.
Springer, who was in the news for nine years with Barry and then on the radio show with him for two years, said Barry was selected as a meteorologist because of his personality.
At the time, Willard Scott on the Today show was the nation’s most popular meteorologist, a big, happy guy.
“I thought he was a great personality,” Springer said.
When the meteorologist left, instead of having another weather expert, Springer thought Barry might be different, like Scott.
“I went to & mldr; the general manager, ”Springer said. “He was new to town. And I said, there’s this guy, a real personality. Young people listen to it on the radio.
Barry would be perfect, Springer promised the CEO.
And he was. Although Steve Horstmeyer (then at WLWT and now on FOX19) had to teach him how to weather, Springer said.
“People started to watch Pat as much as I and Norma (Rashid),” Springer said.
Barry and Springer’s friendship was a lot like the nerd and popular guy, the latter being Barry, Springer said.
“He was always teasing me, because I was a little cheesy,” Springer said. “Every time I had a birthday he wished me a happy birthday on the air, always adding a few years, knowing I couldn’t really deny him.
The two remained friends after the radio show, where it was Barry who taught Springer.
“We had a great time together,” Springer said.
“ One way to make everyone laugh ”: the career of Pat Barry, which makes the difference
On the podcast, Barry noted that many television meteorologists such as Al Roker from the “Today” show do not have meteorology degrees. “I owe (to current WXIX meteorologist Steve) Horstmeyer because I didn’t know anything when I got into it,” Barry said, adding that he had also taken classes and studied a lot.
It was also on Channel 5 that he exposed his much more sentimental side as a spokesperson for the Ruth Lyons Children’s Fund. Childless himself, he said that after many wet-eyed visits with hospitalized children to see the fruits of the fund’s efforts, it was the most important role he had ever had in its broadcast.
In 1994, WLWT let Barry go and he was hired by WXIX-TV (Fox 19) in 1995. The first weather anchor for the new “19 in the Morning” newspaper in 1996, he became co-host of the broadcast shortly thereafter. He left Fox 19 in 1999, but returned to the station as a weekend anchor during the 2000s. Barry said he spent 15 years on occasion at WXIX.
Tricia Macke worked with Barry when she was starting out in the television business.
“Pat Barry was doing the weather and he always had a way to make everyone laugh by making fun of things and filling the room with his loud, loud laugh. He offered me advice on how to make others good at the television just watching how I said something in a raffle, ”she said.“ We’ve been friends for over 30 years and it’s hard to sum up thoughts or memories of him because I don’t think so that none will do him justice. “
She said Barry loved when she compared him to Rodney Dangerfield and he loved doing his impersonation. She said he would text her before and during the news broadcasts to give her a treat from Cincinnati about that person or that person or tell me he liked my hair parted right or left & mldr ; I couldn’t believe he noticed but it was who he was. Attention to detail. He is the Rain Man of Cincinnati factoids. Name a person and the chances are not only that he has met them at some point in his life, but he can give you an idea of who that person was. “
Macke said Barry has always been a positive influence in his life.
“Pat was always the person I wanted to ask for advice,” she said. He had a sharp mind, he was one of the best people I have ever known. I will miss him dearly! “
‘I got into radio and worked all over Ohio’
In the Waycross Community Media interview, Barry said he started radio in 1968 at age 16 in Springfield, Ohio, completing his freshman year of high school and helping out a DJ at WIZE.
“I was supposed to be a group principal and go to Ohio State University,” Barry said in the interview. “Somehow I got into radio and worked all over Ohio and Indiana and also Florida.”
He came to Cincinnati in 1974 to work at WSAI-AM and left in 1978 to put WOKV on air in Hamilton. He then quit after a year and a half to be a program director at a Tampa station for the Cincinnati-based Taft Broadcasting station for a year and a half “then came back here with them” at Q102.
Janeen Coyle. now on WGRR-FM, worked with Barry on Q-102 in the 80s.
“Pat has always been the life of the party. He’s never had a cloudy day. We grew up together all these years ago and I just know he’s in heaven cracking the Big Guy with his Rodney Dangerfield’s best impression. We loved him and we will. lacks his “big kid” smile, and even bigger heart.
During his time at WLWT, Barry had also had a talk show on WKRC-AM which also aired on seven old Clear Channel stations nationwide.
Barry has also been heard on WLW-AM, WMOJ-FM and WDJO-AM.
Hired by WDJO in 2014, Barry told The Enquirer, “I’ve worked everywhere else. I thought I’d give these guys a chance.”
A week after leaving WDJO in 2018, Barry landed country classic WNKN-FM (105.9) and WNKR-FM (106.7).
“He’s done rock, pop, talk, and oldies on the radio – and weather and host TV shows – but he’s never been a country music DJ,” wrote John Kiesewetter, WVXU reporter, former Enquirer television and radio critic. .
The friends list was a ‘who’s who’ from Cincinnati
Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said Barry loved Cincinnati.
“Pat Barry has had several successful careers; mainly, I think, because he loved Cincinnati so much and that love drew him to our people, ”Cranley said.
Barry was friends with a who’s who of Cincinnati luminaries.
Former Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken called Barry “one of a kind.”
Luken, who worked in the media before becoming mayor, said Barry was a source of information about the city.
“He had an infectious laugh,” Luken said.
Barry was also good friends with the National Baseball Hall of Famer and former Cincinnati Reds great Johnny Bench for several decades.
A statement from friends Dennis Janson and Bina Roy said Johnny’s three sons considered Barry to be “Uncle Pat,” and without immediate family Barry often spent Christmas and other vacations in the Shoal Panhandle. Bench had been following medical developments closely in recent weeks, but was still deeply saddened by the news.
“I have never known someone who could make me laugh so uncontrollably. Who was so loved by so many people. When I first met him, he happily called my attention to his nameplate. ‘vanity registration:’ Big Kid ‘he read and he was that and more, ”Bench said in the statement.
“Taller than life and the best friend anyone could ask for. A true professional in every sense of the word. He took life seriously but always got her up with lots of laughs. He was my friend, a distinction that I share with hundreds of others. who felt the same. ”
An article on the WNKN / WNKR website iloveclassiccountry.com credits the relationship with teaching Barry to appreciate country music.
“In the early 80’s Johnny was still playing and every time they rode together Johnny had country music on the radio. Pat has been a country music fan ever since,” the post said.
Pat Barry guides others as a ‘mentor and supporter’
Although he never married, Pat had a coterie of friends and associates who viewed him as a big brother / advocate. He has always been more than willing to offer advice and guidance to young women and men who are pursuing their own careers in broadcasting. The industry is teeming with mentees Pat Barry, his friends said.
Rich Walburg and Barry both worked on Q102, but not at the same time.
Walburg first met Barry when Barry was the replacement host for Jim Scott at 700WLW, where Walburg was executive producer on that show.
“When Pat became your friend, he was your lifelong friend,” Walburg said. “In recent years he has become a mentor and supporter, helping me navigate a new career after the broadcast. He would call or text just to check in or to share a joke. His humor, warmth and her kindness will be sorely missed. “
Among those who share their admiration and thoughts on Pat’s passing is another Hall of Famer, retired Reds legend Marty Brennaman.
“I can’t tell you how saddened I am to learn of Pat’s passing. When I think of Pat Barry, I think of a guy who is always upbeat and always smiling. If you ever needed anything, all you had to do was ask and participate, no questions asked. The way he made the transition isn’t pleasant to think about, but we can be sure he’s in a better place. Amanda and I will always cherish her friendship. “
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time, but donations would be encouraged to the Ruth Lyons Children’s Fund and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.
Cameron Knight contributed.
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