The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Homecoming ends for Fox
Meteorologist had hoped to return to News 8 full time
NEW HAVEN » Geoff Fox, the well-known TV meteorologist who was rehired by WTNH News 8 in June, has had his service there terminated after only about two months on the air.
Fox made the announcement Monday on his Facebook page.
“Though our agreement was just for the summer,” Fox wrote, “early on I made it clear to Channel 8 I was interested in a full-time position. On Friday (Sept. 8) they made an offer for a part-time job. It was for less than I made when I first arrived in 1984. I had no choice but to reject that offer.”
But he added, “It was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made.”
When asked for comment, WTNH News Director Keith Connors said in an email that the station is “building the best weather team in Connecticut” and has hired Joe Furey to be a part of that.
“We hoped Geoff would be a part of our team,” Connors said. “But as he said on Facebook, we offered him an opportunity to stay with Channel 8 and he declined.”
Connors concluded: “We are grateful for all Geoff did for WTNH this summer and we wish him nothing but the best in the future.”
The New Haven Register June 28 broke the story that Fox, although now living in California, had been rehired by Channel 8 to do evening weather reports out of his self-built home studio. He said this was not a problem because he could analyze Connecticut weather data from out-of-state.
Fox spent 27 years with Channel 8 while living in the New Haven area. He was shocked in 2011 when his contract was not renewed. He then worked for WTIC (FOX CT, Channel 61) for 19 months but lost that job because of inappropriate use of social media, which then became public.
Fox became a sympathetic figure last year when he revealed on his blog (www. geofffox.com) he was combatting pancreatic cancer. When asked during a phone interview Tuesday how he is doing on that front, he said, “All my treatment is over. The chemotherapy left me extremely weak. It turned out I had an iron deficiency, so I got an iron infusion. And now I seem to be great.”
Fox added, “I’m feeling really great.” But then, alluding to losing his WTNH job, he said, “I’m very disappointed. And I’m sad.”
He compared his situation to Charles Schulz’ longrunning “Peanuts” comic strip gag in which Lucy pulls away the football from Charlie Brown at the last second as he runs up to kick it, leaving him flying through the air in anguish.
“I feel like Charlie Brown with Lucy. This is the second time they’ve pulled away the ball.”
Fox maintained, “I was blindsided by this decision. There was never an inkling. Then I learned they had hired Joe Furey.” Furey formerly worked for WTIC (FOX CT, Channel 61).
Fox added, “I don’t know what more I could have done to prove my worth to them and the viewers. I really wanted that job. I did a great job for them this summer, and the response in social media shows that.”
Fox said he was working full-time because his hours were 3 p.m. to 11:35 p.m. Eastern time. He said he often did the shows that aired at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
He stressed he enjoyed working at Channel 8 again. “I had a wonderful time. The people I worked with were great. I was really happy to have that opportunity and I wish it had continued.”
On his Facebook posting, Fox wrote: “Being back on Channel 8 was a fantasy come true. You guys have been so supportive. This was my opportunity to show my gratitude. And it was a sign my life had turned around. I started back on News 8 as chemotherapy ended. A year earlier I expected to die. Instead I was coming home.”