Remembering Dick Fletcher

St. Petersburg, Florida - Thanks for all of your comments, cards and e-mail, they really mean a lot to us.

10 News Chief Meteorologist Dick Fletcher died February 26 after suffering a massive stroke on Monday, February 18. Dick had been hospitalized shortly after the stroke, but he did not respond to treatment, passing away in the early morning hours of Tuesday.

Dick’s wife, Cindy, and his family were at his side during the final moments. It’s been a difficult time for the Fletcher family, but they have been comforted by the outpouring of support they’ve received from you through comments online, e-mail, phone calls and cards.

“We’ve lost a legend” says Tampa Bay’s 10 President and General Manager Sam Rosenwasser. “People counted on Dick Fletcher for their weather. He really did touch a lot of lives and he will be missed tremendously.”

Dick suffered his first stroke in 2003, but made a quick recovery and was back on the air just a few weeks later.

Dick Fletcher was a giant in the world of TV meteorology. He frequently served on national weather panels and mentored younger meteorologists, teaching them what he knew. Dick pioneered the use of graphics in weather presentations in the 80’s and was a computer master all of his professional life. In fact, during his last few months at Tampa Bay’s 10, Dick helped create a new all weather website, www.forecastfirst.com.

Dick started at WTSP-TV in 1980 and quickly became a person people here in the Bay area could trust for weather. It’s hard to list all of Dick’s accomplishments, but we recognize many of them in this report.

There are two foundations selected by Cindy Fletcher for donations in memory of Fletch:

The Dick Fletcher Memorial Fund

Make checks payable to:

The Pinellas Education Foundation
12090 Starkey Road
Largo, Florida 33773

Note on the check: Dick Fletcher Memorial Fund

and

The Dick Fletcher Memorial Scholarship Fund at USF

Make checks payable to:

The USF Foundation, Inc.
Attn: Julie Benson
4202 East Fowler Ave.-CPR 107
Tampa, Florida 33620

Note on the Check: Dick Fletcher Scholarship Fund

We thank you all so much for the calls, letters and comments written to us about Fletch over the last week. You can still comment below or e-mail us at RememberingFletch@tampabays10.com. We will print out every comment and take them to the Fletcher family.