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WEBVTT -- DICK ALBERT HAS DIED.EMILY: HE BECAME A MEMBER OURFAMILY AND YOURS.ED: 431 YEARS HE BECAME ALEGEND, TELLING KIDS WENT TOTAKE THE BUS, BREAK OF THEUMBRELLA, AND BREAK OUT THE SNOWSHOVELS.>> YOU SHOULD OUT SOMEONE WHOHAS BEEN STUDYING THIS ALL DAYLONG.ED HIS WARM PRESENCE MADE HIM ASPECIAL GUEST FOR VIEWERS, A MANTHAT MANY NEW JUST AS DICKIE.>> WHO IS TALKING TO ME,MAESTRO?ED THE NEW NATIVE EMBRACE THECHANGING ATMOSPHERE AT A YOUNGAGE.HE WAS DESCRIBED AS "A WEATHGEEK.">> WEATHER WISDOM.ED: HE CAME TO BOSTON AFTERSERVING IN THE AIR FORCE AS AMETEOROLOGIST AND DOING THEWEATHER AT A DENVER STATION.HE CAME TO BOSTON DURING THEGOLDEN AGE O TELEVISION.HE LOVED WEATHER, ALL KINDS OFWEATHER.HE WAS NEVER HAPPIER THAN WHENHE COULD SEE A BIG STORM HEADINGOUR WAY.HE TOOK EACH FORECAST VERYSERIOUSLY, APPLYING HIS SCIENCETO THE ENDLESSLY CHANGING NEWENGLAND WEATHER.>> FREEZING AND WORCESTER INSOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE RIGHTNOW.ED: BUT VIEWERS KNEW HE HAD ANENDEARING, GOOFY SIDE HE BROUGHTTO THE AIR WITH MANY CORKING --QUIRKY EXPRESSIONS.>> BABY, IT IS COLD OUTSIDE.STORM TRACK FIVE LIVE DOPPLERRADAR.ED: HIS PRIMARY PASSION WASFAMILY.HIS WIFE MARION, HIS SEED OFSONS DICK WAS ANACCOMPLISHED PAINTER.HE LOVED TO PLAY GUITAR AND AGOOD TENNIS MATCH.>> I WOULD CALL THIS THEROUNDUP.THIS IS MY FINAL FORECAST ON

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Whether the weather was stormy or clear, WCVB-TV's former chief meteorologist Dick Albert, who was on the Boston airwaves for 31 years, always greeted NewsCenter 5 viewers with a sunny smile.Albert died Friday after complications from pneumonia. He was 73.Albert, known as "Dickie" to millions of viewers, joined WCVB in 1978. In his three decades forecasting for Channel 5, he became known as the dean of New England’s meteorologists."My career has been a gift. I've worked with the best in the business and enjoyed every minute of it," Albert said in 2009 as he announced his retirement.Albert, a Newton native, was one of the most recognized and beloved personalities in local television.He brought a love of weather and a daily passion to his work, colleagues said."It's not only my vocation, but my lifelong avocation," Albert once said.Albert said his one regret about his work in Boston was that he missed the Blizzard of '78, because he joined WCVB several months after the storm."Losing Dick is like losing a brother," former WCVB anchor Natalie Jacobson said. "This is a man that, above everything, loved life."Jacobson recalled all the times the two spent time together. "He was fun, he was just fun," Jacobson said. "I'm grateful beyond words for the time I had at Channel 5, but Chet and Dick and Mike Lynch and me had a relationship that, professionally and personally, that is God's gift, so we're all sad tonight, but we're grateful for having had each other," Jacobson said."This was not a man who cared about awards or statues or things that others judge their talent by," former WCVB anchor Susan Wornick said. "Dick judged himself by his family, and the things he was most proud of: his sons and wife.""The things that were important to Dick came from his heart. Yes, he was a scientist... but he was warm and he was loving to the people around him," Wornick said. "This is a very difficult loss, both for me on a personal level, and of course for Dick's family, the Channel 5 family and all the viewers that loved and adored him," Chief Meteorologist Harvey Leonard said."He had a tremendous passion for weather, for people, for his family and had a unique but geniune way of presenting the weather that all of us loved so much," Leonard said. "We'll always remember and definitely miss him."Leonard worked alongside Albert for six-and-a-half years."The first month we worked together, I fell of my chair in the weather center five times, laughing so hard," Leonard said. "He was so funny, but he wasn't trying to be funny. He was one-of-a-kind for sure." "Dick Albert was a dear friend, a wonderful meteorologist who guided New England through years of weather and most important to him, a devoted husband and father," Candy Altman, former WCVB News Director and now Vice President of News for the Hearst Corporation said. "Our hearts go out to Mary Ann, Marc, Matt and their families at this difficult time."“Everyone at WCVB is heartbroken by the passing of our very dear friend and esteemed colleague, Dick Albert,” said Bill Fine, WCVB President and General Manager. “’Dickie,’ as he was affectionately referred to by his countless friends and fans, was an outstanding meteorologist and the expert who our community turned to for critical weather information for more than thirty years. He was widely acknowledged as the ‘dean’ of New England weather…and rightfully so. His love for and dedication to weather was surpassed only by his love and dedication to his wonderful family; his wife Mary Ann, their sons Marc and Matt, and their families. We send our deepest sympathy, prayers, and much love to the Albert family, and Dick will be forever in our hearts and memories.” Before being hired at Channel 5, Albert was the principal meteorologist at KOA-TV, now KCNC-TV in Denver, for two years. He served for one year at KRON-TV, San Francisco, where he described the weather as "boring" when compared to New England's "fickle" climate.He also served as a forecaster for the U.S. Air Force before taking his first broadcasting job with KOB-TV in Albuquerque, N.M.Albert received many accolades in his storied career, including multiple regional Emmys. He was recognized with the prestigious Silver Circle Award for Lifetime Achievement by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2004.Albert was voted the second most popular weathercaster in the nation by "Television/Radio Age" in 1987. His work contributed to countless station-wide honors, including Associated Press, RTNDA Edward R. Murrow and National Headliner Awards.Albert leaves his wife Mary Ann and two sons, Marc and Matt.In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Dr. Richard Stone's Leukemia Research Fund at 450 Brookline Ave Boston, MA 02215 and Dr. Lindsey Baden's Research fund at Brigham and Women's Hospital in memory of Dick Albert to support cancer research.