Barry ZeVan, a legendary Minnesota weatherman and an accomplished traveler who captured the spirit of places near and far with the same energy that made him a fixture on Minnesota television sets for decades, passed away Wednesday. He was 82.

ZeVan was known as the “Peek-A-Boo” weatherman, with a fun, cheeky style for giving viewers a look at the weather heading their way. Long after retiring from broadcasts in the late '80s, ZeVan was still hard at work. He filmed a segment of his “Retro Weather” web series just after Christmas.

His family members announced his passing Wednesday night.

“Barry held special connections with people around the world. He packed more in a lifetime than most of us ever could,” his granddaughter, Maritsa Georgiou, wrote. “He had an infectious, vivacious spirit filled with imagination. Everything he did, he did with panache.”

We only had the privilege of working with Barry for a few months, but that panache still shined bright. He recently wrote guides to exploring Montreal and captured the majesty of Monaco. Both stories were peppered with anecdotes and expertise from his own travels – he even knew Prince Albert's favorite meal in Monaco.

He wasn't done there. He had plans to keep writing about his travels, from Africa to the French Riviera and beyond. Even well into retirement, Barry beat every deadline and was eager to continue writing.

Although brief, working with Barry was a privilege. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends, and loved ones.

 

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