WCSU reflects on Dr. Mel's attributions

Danbury, Conn. (WTNH) - Dr. Mel Goldstein was well-known to the viewers of Connecticut, but he was also the founding father and had a tremendous impact on the meteorological program at Western Connecticut State University.

If you're looking for a place to study weather, then the only place to earn a degree in Southern New England is at Western Connecticut. WCSU President Dr. Jim Schmotter says Dr. Mel is the reason for that.

"Really, he was the godfather of all we do in weather science here," said Schmotter.

Dr. Mel's vision also included the creation of a severe weather index to predict the severity of storms, something students study to this day.

"He was a friendly voice on the radio, and a friendly person on television, all the young students loved him because he was the one that told them they didn't have to go to school when there was a storm," said Schmotter. "Behind all that, was a serious, accomplished scientist. This was really based...he never really stepped away from his discipline."

The last time Schmotter saw his friend was this fall, when Dr. Mel took part in the president's lecture series.

"People treated him like a rock star," Schmotter said. "They wanted to touch him, talk to him. Mel was not feeling well, but he lit up when he got behind the podium. He talked about how much he laughed as a young man, and he still did that."

The new weather center at WCSU was opened up in 2006.