June Bacon-Bercey

June Esther Bacon-Bercey (née Griffin, October 23, 1928 – July 3, 2019) was an American international expert on weather and aviation.[1] She worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Weather Service and the Atomic Energy Commission.[2]

June Bacon-Bercey
June Bacon-Bercey.png
June Bacon-Bercey, around 1977
Born
June Esther Griffin

(1928-10-23)October 23, 1928
DiedJuly 3, 2019(2019-07-03) (aged 90)
Alma mater
Scientific career
Fields
  • Meteorology
  • Radar metereology
  • Aviation meteorology
  • Weather forecasting
Institutions

She was believed to be the first African-American woman to gain a degree in meteorology[3] and was confirmed to be the first African-American woman to be a televised meteorologist.[4]

Bacon-Bercey died under hospice care in Burlingame, California from frontotemporal dementia on July 3, 2019 at the age of 90.[4]

References

  1. Pat Viets (2000-03-15). "NOAA Supporting Conference in Atmospheric Sciences at Howard University". NOAA. Archived from the original on 2008-09-16. Retrieved 2008-02-13.
  2. Bill Workman (2000-03-23). "Substitute Science Teacher is a Meteorology Legend". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-02-13.
  3. Chandler, D.L. "Little Known Black History Fact: June Bacon-Bercey". BlackAmericaWeb. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "June Bacon-Bercey, 90, Pathbreaking Meteorologist, Is Dead". The New York Times. January 7, 2020.