Don Kent passes away...

Hughie · 03-02-2010, 09:14 PM

I was sad to hear of Don Kent's passing this morning. Don Kent was the inspiration for many of today's broadcast weathermen and for younger ones to young to know him maybe not an inspiration but a silent partner or angel in the evolution of broadcast weather. Don Kent was my inspiration to become a broadcast forecaster on radio between the ages of 13-18. His ability to deliver a New England weather picture was quite unique. From reports of ice fishing, maple sugaring, winter golf on the Cape and all other popular New England activities he delivered it with his hand drawn weather maps. He often mentioned the Lake Region in his broadcasts. His fondness of this region rubbed off on me to find a second / retirement home here. He spent much of his retirement here in the Lakes Region. He passed away this morning in Franklin.
I am posting a tribute to him by Dick Albert http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng0DFhPKY1E

Seeker · 03-02-2010, 09:58 PM

Growing up in the Boston area I always looked forward to Don's broadcasts. If I remember correctly, which isn't often, didn't he own a small island in Boothbay Harbor and have his own line of weather instruments? These wx guys today should get some of his old tapes and see how it should be done.
Don, blue sky forever, holding at 29.92.

Hughie · 03-02-2010, 10:19 PM

Seeker, I know he had a place in ME, not sure if it was an Island. He founded the Downeaster Company in the 1960's which made weather instruments. He sold them at the family carpet business.
He lived in Sanbornton for many of his later years. I believe he just moved to a nursing home in Franklin the last couple days.

To think he was so good without all the technology currently in place now. At least he witnessed and got to experience the technology explosion in his field. But I would take his old fashion style and grace over some of current content we all are bombarded with on media today.

trfour · 03-02-2010, 11:41 PM

From radio in the forty's and television in 1951 when he joined WBZ-4, Don Kent was my family's all time favorite weatherman. We looked foward to his radio weather forecasts from WBZ 1030 even while living in Northfield, VT.

I always wanted to thank him, and got to do just that a few years ago when I looked him up in the phone book and called him at his home in Sanbornton, NH. He answered my call and we got to talk for some ( 45 minutes ) and if anyone knows Don it wasn't just about the weather. It was during winter with snow on the ground at his place and he had been out earlier in the day burning brush.
It was a very special treat for me to let him know that he had a HUGE FAN BASE.

Don Is The Norman Rockwell Of New England Weather!
_____________________

Sunbeam lodge · 03-03-2010, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seeker

Growing up in the Boston area I always looked forward to Don's broadcasts. If I remember correctly, which isn't often, didn't he own a small island in Boothbay Harbor and have his own line of weather instruments? These wx guys today should get some of his old tapes and see how it should be done.
Don, blue sky forever, holding at 29.92.

I lived in on Sewall st. in Wollaston as a kid and remember he used to broadcast from a little store on Wollaston beach near the Yacht clubs. Great guy.

SIKSUKR · 03-03-2010, 10:37 AM

Simply put, Don was THE MAN. He got me excited about being interested and following weather. I became a big fan of his when he did the WBZ news with Jack Chase. Two New England broadcast legends. High pressure to him in his last journey.
Here is a great interview with Don about his life.

http://www.ericpinder.com/html/donkent.html

03-02-2010, 09:14 PM	#1
Hughie Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 12 Thanks: 11 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Don Kent New England's First Weatherman I was sad to hear of Don Kent's passing this morning. Don Kent was the inspiration for many of today's broadcast weathermen and for younger ones to young to know him maybe not an inspiration but a silent partner or angel in the evolution of broadcast weather. Don Kent was my inspiration to become a broadcast forecaster on radio between the ages of 13-18. His ability to deliver a New England weather picture was quite unique. From reports of ice fishing, maple sugaring, winter golf on the Cape and all other popular New England activities he delivered it with his hand drawn weather maps. He often mentioned the Lake Region in his broadcasts. His fondness of this region rubbed off on me to find a second / retirement home here. He spent much of his retirement here in the Lakes Region. He passed away this morning in Franklin. I am posting a tribute to him by Dick Albert http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng0DFhPKY1E

03-02-2010, 10:19 PM	#3
Hughie Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 12 Thanks: 11 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Don Kent New England's First Weatherman Seeker, I know he had a place in ME, not sure if it was an Island. He founded the Downeaster Company in the 1960's which made weather instruments. He sold them at the family carpet business. He lived in Sanbornton for many of his later years. I believe he just moved to a nursing home in Franklin the last couple days. To think he was so good without all the technology currently in place now. At least he witnessed and got to experience the technology explosion in his field. But I would take his old fashion style and grace over some of current content we all are bombarded with on media today.

03-02-2010, 11:41 PM	#4
trfour Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lakes, Central NH. and Dallas/Fort Worth TX. Posts: 3,694 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 3,069 Thanked 472 Times in 236 Posts	An Awesome Human Being... From radio in the forty's and television in 1951 when he joined WBZ-4, Don Kent was my family's all time favorite weatherman. We looked foward to his radio weather forecasts from WBZ 1030 even while living in Northfield, VT. I always wanted to thank him, and got to do just that a few years ago when I looked him up in the phone book and called him at his home in Sanbornton, NH. He answered my call and we got to talk for some ( 45 minutes ) and if anyone knows Don it wasn't just about the weather. It was during winter with snow on the ground at his place and he had been out earlier in the day burning brush. It was a very special treat for me to let him know that he had a HUGE FAN BASE. Don Is The Norman Rockwell Of New England Weather! _____________________ __________________ *trfour* Always Remember, The Best Safety Device In The Boat, or on a PWC Snowmobile etc., Is YOU! Safe sledding tips and much more; http://www.snowmobile.org/snowmobiling-safety.html

03-03-2010, 10:37 AM	#6
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Simply put, Don was THE MAN. He got me excited about being interested and following weather. I became a big fan of his when he did the WBZ news with Jack Chase. Two New England broadcast legends. High pressure to him in his last journey. Here is a great interview with Don about his life. http://www.ericpinder.com/html/donkent.html __________________ SIKSUKR

03-02-2010, 09:58 PM	#2
Seeker Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Effingham Posts: 408 Thanks: 37 Thanked 19 Times in 15 Posts	Growing up in the Boston area I always looked forward to Don's broadcasts. If I remember correctly, which isn't often, didn't he own a small island in Boothbay Harbor and have his own line of weather instruments? These wx guys today should get some of his old tapes and see how it should be done. Don, blue sky forever, holding at 29.92.