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Tom Jolls, part of Channel 7's legendary 'Irv, Rick and Tom' broadcast team, dies at 89

Alan Pergament 22 hrs ago



Tom Jolls died Wednesday at age 89.

Alan Pergament

Tom Jolls, the affable weatherman on the legendary WKBW-TV (Channel 7) anchor team alongside news anchor Irv Weinstein and sports director Rick Azar that dominated local news for decades, died Wednesday in Buffalo Hospice in Cheektowaga. He was 89.

Jolls was the last of the legendary trio to retire and the only one who stayed in Western New York after exiting television, even after he briefly lived in Florida. ... Weinstein died in 2017 and Azar in 2021.

The Jolls family released a statement Wednesday.

“As a family, we could not be any prouder than we are of his illustrious television career. Better yet, he was an even better family man. His brief illness was a blessing, as he did not suffer much and passed away with all his family by his bedside,” the statement read.

“He was a very shy and private man off the air and, as such, we will celebrate his life with a private, family-only service. He will always be our commander. To all his family, friends and fans, he would hope you all make your lives salubrious,” the statement continued.

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