Was Jym Ganahl married? All about Columbus broadcast legend as he dies at 76

According to confirmation from his family, beloved former chief meteorologist Jym Ganahl passed away at 76. Ganahl died of natural causes on February 3, but his family kept that information largely private until after a funeral was held. This was the end of a remarkable career spanning some 60 years in meteorology.

Outside of his vocation, Jym Ganahl was a man with a heart for the community, taking part in charitable causes and community theater, having appeared in several productions over the years. He expressed a desire to spend more time with his family and become more actively involved in local initiatives during his later years.

Jym Ganahl was married but got divorced in the early 1990s. He is survived by two daughters and seven grandkids and was not married at the time of his death.

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More about Jym Ganahl

Weather forecasting interested Jym Ganahl at a young age. By the age of 17, he was writing his first weather job after calling the news director at his hometown station in Waterloo, Iowa. This first step into broadcasting started a lifelong devotion to meteorological science, one that made him a household name in Columbus.

In 1979, Ganahl joined NBC4, which was then known as WCMH, becoming an integral part of the news team that dominated central Ohio airwaves in the 1980s. Alongside news anchors Doug Adair and Mona Scott and sports anchor Jimmy Crum, Ganahl became a familiar and trusted face in Columbus homes. His expertise and on-air charisma cemented his reputation as one of the most respected meteorologists in the region.

Ganahl played a key role in shaping NBC4’s weather team, even mentoring longtime meteorologist Ben Gelber, who remains with the station after 40 years. His extensive knowledge of weather, including folklore such as predicting temperature based on cricket chirps and forecasting snowfall patterns based on forsythia blooms, made him a standout figure in meteorology.

After delivering his final on-air forecast for NBC4 on September 1, 2016, Ganahl remained on staff until July 2017. However, his retirement was short-lived. He soon took on a part-time role at WSYX/WTTE, where he continued to share his passion for weather forecasting until officially stepping down in March 2023.

Despite his successful career, Ganahl faced personal challenges. In the early 1990s, he went through a divorce and battled an addiction to painkillers. He also suffered from congestive heart failure, which forced him to step back from his duties in late 2013 and early 2014. Nevertheless, he remained resilient, finding solace in his work, community involvement, and family.

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Jym Ganahl’s legacy extends far beyond his weather forecasts. He will be remembered not only for his expertise in meteorology but also for the kindness, wisdom, and warmth he shared with those around him.