Melvin G. Goldstein (October 23, 1945 – January 18, 2012), known on air as Dr. Mel, was an on-air television meteorologist and the chief meteorologist for WTNH in New Haven, Connecticut, from 1986 to 2011. He also served as the meteorologist for the radio station

WLAD WLAD (800 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Danbury, Connecticut. It broadcasts a talk format. WLAD is owned by Berkshire Broadcasting. The studios and offices are located on Mill Plain Road in Danbury and the transmitter is off ...

Danbury, Connecticut Danbury is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located approximately northeast of New York City. Danbury's population as of 2022 was 87,642. It is the seventh largest city in Connecticut. Danbury is nicknamed the "Hat City ...

from the mid-1970s to 2012 and for WQUN in Hamden, Connecticut.

Early life and education

Goldstein was born in

Swampscott, Massachusetts Swampscott () is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, located up the coast from Boston in an area known as the North Shore. The population was 15,111 as of the 2020 United States Census. A former summer resort on Massachusetts Ba ...

, in 1945, where, as Goldstein himself put it, "the conversation was always about the weather." He earned a degree in meteorology from

Penn State #Redirect Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campu ...

in 1967, followed by a doctorate from New York University.

Career

In 1972, Goldstein took up a teaching job at Western Connecticut State University. He established Connecticut's only meteorology bachelor's degree, and began to run WestConn's weather center, which supplied forecasting information to 20 local radio and television stations. Goldstein joined WTNH as a meteorologist in 1986, becoming a local celebrity and eventually WTNH's chief meteorologist. In 1999, he authored the ''Complete Idiot's Guide to Weather''. He held the honorary title of Director Emeritus at WestConn's Weather Center.

Personal life

In 1996 Goldstein was diagnosed with

multiple myeloma Multiple myeloma (MM), also known as plasma cell myeloma and simply myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that normally produces antibodies. Often, no symptoms are noticed initially. As it progresses, bone pain, an ...

, which his doctors predicted would claim his life within three years. Hoping to beat the diagnosis, Goldstein underwent treatment at

Yale-New Haven Hospital Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) is a 1,541-bed hospital located in New Haven, Connecticut. It is owned and operated by the Yale New Haven Health System. YNHH includes the 168-bed Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven, the 201-bed Yale New Have ...

, far outliving his initial prognosis. He returned to work at WTNH, though on a limited on-air schedule.

Retirement

On August 23, 2011, WTNH announced Goldstein's retirement after 25 years of service. In celebration of his service, the station produced a prime-time tribute to Goldstein.

Death

On January 18, 2012, Mel Goldstein died of complications and declining health due to multiple myeloma at the age of 66. He is survived by his wife Arlene and two daughters Laura and Melodie. On August 20, 2012 Goldstein's wife Arlene, Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr. and the town of East Haven hosted a brief ceremony along with other officials, family, and friends to unveil a memorial park bench in Mel's honor which was placed at the East Haven town beach. The bench was donated by Goldstein's wife Arlene.

References

External links

Short bioDr. Mel Myeloma siteStorm Team 8 Weather
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goldstein, Mel 1945 births 2012 deaths American television personalities American meteorologists Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences alumni Deaths from cancer in Connecticut Deaths from multiple myeloma People from Swampscott, Massachusetts Place of death missing