Well, look at that: It’s Barry ZeVan, The Weatherman!
Would you ever guess our fascinating Cover Star — a longtime Minnesota resident — is nearly 80?
Most locals know ZeVan from his TV days at KSTP Channel 5 and KARE 11. His broadcasts were groundbreaking at the time for their wit and humor.
Indeed, ZeVan was one of the first broadcasters to really have fun on the air with his trademark grin and wacky sense of humor. (As you can see, he still has that twinkle in his eye today.)
Now — after a lifetime of adventures behind him — ZeVan is ready for a comeback of sorts.
Though the Golden Valley resident is currently working full-time as a marketing and public relations consultant, he’s somehow still found time to write and self-publish a book.
In Barry ZeVan: My Life Among the Giants, A Memoir, ZeVan chronicles his less-than-ideal childhood, his dizzying rise to TV fame and his subsequent fall from grace — as well as the many careers and interesting connections he’s made along the way.
He wrote the book “to pay homage to all the amazing people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing in my life — many of whom I’m guessing had no idea just how important they were to me.”
It’s hard to imagine the extraordinary adventures ZeVan’s had over the years, including meet-and-greets and on-air interactions with American icons and even dignitaries such as President Harry Truman, Gen. Colin Powell and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
I hope you enjoy his story!
Inside this month’s magazine, you’ll also find a variety of stories about an issue close to our hearts at Good Age — senior housing — in honor of our May issue’s Housing theme, including articles about the do’s and don’ts of downsizing, the implications senior housing can have for caregivers and a Golden Girls home in Minneapolis, seeking female residents in need of friendly housemates.
And, as usual, our lead columnist, Dave Nimmer, has provided a special story related to our Housing theme, this time about one Linda Goynes, a miraculous Minneapolis woman buying her own home for the first time — at age 64.
I’d argue that Goynes and ZeVan are proof: Age really is just a number.
Sarah