Legendary Philly Weatherman, NJ Native Dave Frankel Dies

NEW JERSEY — Legendary and Emmy Award winning television weather reporter and news anchor Dave Frankel, known throughout the Philadelphia region for his years with KYW, 6ABC, and later ESPN, died this week. He was 67.

A native of Monmouth County, New Jersey, Frankel graduated from Dartmouth University before joining Action News as an investigative reporter in 1984. But it was when he joined 6ABC's daily weather broadcast in 1989 that he became a household name in much of the Delaware Valley. His show quickly became the most watched of its kind in the nation, according to industry analysts Broadcast Pioneers.

His joined KYW in 1997 and then made a career swerve in 2003, enrolling and later graduating from Villanova University's law school and founded his own law firm focused on civil rights.

Frankel's death from a rare neurodegenerative disorder called primary progressive aphasia was confirmed by his wife and children in a Facebook post.

"We have accepted that this disease has taken so much of him from us, but feel endlessly grateful to have the privilege of being his family," his wife Marjie wrote. "And, not to sound trite, but while so much has been taken away, so much has been given: Dave is responsible for making and shaping three beautiful, funny, smart humans who adore him...And, what about me? I’ve been one of the luckiest people on the planet as his best friend and wife."

Service for Frankel will be held Sunday, March 2 at the Inn at Villanova University, which is located on 601 County Line Road in Wayne.

Donations in his memory are encouraged to Alex's Lemonade Stand, a charity which he loved.