For many in the Manhattan area and far south suburbs, weather forecaster Dan Casper is their “weather man.” For the past decade, he has dutifully posted daily forecasts for upcoming weather on his Manhattan Weather Channel Facebook page — even from his hospital bed.
Casper passed on February 21, after battling RSV and lung cancer.
He was initially hospitalized on February 13. He updated followers on Facebook that although he anticipated being hospitalized through the weekend, he would still “try to provide updates from my phone.”
Unfortunately, his condition rapidly deteriorated. From his hospital bed, he designated close friend Laura Adrieansen as his medical Power of Attorney, entrusting her with his care, as doctors needed to sedate him and put him on a ventilator.
Adrieansen and her family also took in Casper’s dog and will ensure his matters will be handled.
Casper’s dedication to the weather made him well-known in the weather industry and the community, with his Manhattan Weather Channel amassing nearly 45,000 Facebook followers. Subscribers could access exclusive content, and he also worked with local businesses to advertise on his page.
“It’s funny how we met, but we became best friends. He’s had no family, and he has entrusted me with everything. I feel like that is a huge thing. We’ve always had him with holidays, just everything. We’ve included him as though he’s our family,” Adrieansen said of her friend.
After several days of fighting for his life, his extended hospital stay accrued extensive medical bills. Adrieansen and her husband, who happens to be Manhattan’s Mayor, Mike Adrieansen, launched a GoFundMe to cover his expenses and care for Casper’s dog. In just a few short days, the fundraiser amassed $25,000.
Viewers always knew what the weather would be, even if it was just an update that they could expect mundane fair weather. If inclement weather appeared imminent, he would provide up-to-the-minute reports.
He often went out in his storm chaser vehicle to assess incoming storms. At one point, he escaped the elements by seeking shelter in a viewer’s home. He then urged them to take cover in the basement, live-streaming the whole time.
Casper’s LinkedIn page shows he graduated from Columbia College in 1986, studying meteorology, video production, and communications.
Though incredibly popular, his forecasts at times drew ire from industry professionals and the general public, who deemed them sensationalized and exaggerated.
Despite those differences of opinion, professional meteorologists, storm chasers, social media forecasters, and the public-at-large took to social media to express their concern and support for Casper’s well-being.
Meteorologist at Fox 32 News, Mike Caplan, addressed Casper’s dire condition at the beginning of a home forecast, which he calls “Studio C.”
“I’ve learned some sad news concerning someone I’ve known for many, many years. He and I have, at times, had an adversarial relationship, but we are friends and have remained friends through all of this. I’ve just learned of a serious health condition for Dan Casper,” Caplan said.
“He knows we haven’t always agreed in terms of weather forecast and sometimes how best to inform people, but the reason why I’ve been his friend is because I know that in his heart, his whole goal is not to try and make money but to inform an audience and keep them posted for safety,” Caplan said.
Caplan got choked up when he noted he had talked with Casper the day prior and that Casper was making posts about the weather, even from his hospital bed.
Chicagoland weather legend Tom Skilling took to the comments of Adrieansen’s post on Casper’s page, “Oh my — this is so sad! I am so very sorry to hear this!! Thank you for the update, Laura! We have Dan front and center in our thoughts — and YOU, too! This can’t be easy for you or anyone who knows Dan!! Please take care of yourself through this, and that goes for all who know Dan!! Please keep us posted!”
The Illinois Storm Chasers team, with more than 380,000 followers, also sent well wishes.
“We would like to offer our good thoughts over to him and his closest people. We may not have always seen eye-to-eye on some things, but the weather community is a dysfunctional family and some things are bigger than petty disagreements about the weather. Get well soon,” their post read.
Several other local outfits also extended heartfelt condolences as Casper fought for his life.
Those wishing to help with expenses arising from Casper’s illness may do so by visiting www.gofundme.com/f/join-dans-journey-to-recovery.
Services will take place on Sunday March 2 at Forsythe Gould Funeral Home.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter
We visited a few years back and spoke a few times since. As his oldest Casper cousin, it is hard to believe that he was taken from us at such an early age.
May hisMemory be Eternal.