Legendary Detroit Weatherman Sonny Eliot Dies in Farmington Hills Home

Detroit's beloved weatherman, Sonny Eliot, passed away in his Farmington Hills home Friday. He was 91.

The Dorfman Chapel in Farmington Hills is handling funeral arrangements, which are pending.

Known for his sunny disposition and his rapid-fire quips, Eliot had a 60-year career in Detroit broadcasting and was a pioneering TV personality.

Eliot joined the staff of WWJ-TV (now WDIV) after World War II and stayed there for 35 years. He was a weatherman, host of the annual Thanksgiving Day parade broadcast and hosted an "At the Zoo" series.

After TV, he kept the fun going on WWJ radio (950 AM).

He was born Marvin Schlossberg on Dec. 5, 1920, in Detroit. Eliot was also a veteran of World War II, according the The Michigan Compainion book, and was shot down in the B-24 Bomber he flew and held fo 18 months in a German prison.

In Detroit, his voice begame a legend, and people far and wide are mourning and remembering him.

For more on Eliot's career and legacy, here are some obituaries and memorials from media far and wide:

CBS Local:

The phones in the WWJ newsroom were ringing off the hook (Thursday) with people who wanted to share their stories and celebrate the life that Eliot had shared with so many.

From his Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame entry:

“Sonny has been a strong, steady and inspirational fixture at WWJ Newsradio 950 since 1947,” writes Rich Homberg, VP and general manager of the station. “Sonny Eliot is a tireless and innovative force in Michigan Journalism.”

From the Detroit News:

"Sonny just oozed personality," said Matt Friedman, a Farmington Hills marketing executive who had worked with Eliot at WWJ. "He was the same in person as he was on the radio. He was hysterical."

From The Detroit Free Press: 

A typical one-liner: “If you’ve found the love of a woman, cherish her, appreciate her, enjoy her — and whatever you do, don’t tell your wife about it.” (The joke was ironic because Eliot was devoted to his wife, Annette.)

What's your favorite Sonny Eliot moment or quip? Tell us in comments.