Richard (Rit) Edward Carbone passed away peacefully on February 4, 2025, in Boulder, CO, from complications associated with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 80 years old. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Linda; his three children, Jared, Mariah and Ian; their spouses Kimberly, Andrew and Taylor; his three grandchildren, Louisa, Alatna and Beatrice; and his emotional support dog Bridie. 

 

Rit was born in 1944 in the Bronx, NY, to Frances (Poggi) and Edward Carbone.  He grew up in South Norwalk, CT, and attended Brien McMahon High School, where he was the school president, played varsity baseball and ran cross country. He was inducted into the school’s hall of fame at his 50th reunion.  On graduation from high school, he received a full scholarship to Knox College in rural Galesburg, IL, which he attended for one year before realizing that he was, at heart, a “city kid.” Drawn back to the Big Apple, he enrolled at NYU where he completed his undergraduate BS degree in Geosciences (meteorology and oceanography) in 1966. He then attended the University of Chicago’s graduate program in Geosciences. There, his studies focused on the use of radar technology in meteorology. On a short break from school, he met his wife, Linda, while both worked for Grumman Aerospace. They were married in New York City in 1970.  Rit was awarded his MS in atmospheric physics from Chicago in 1972, prompting a relocation to Pasadena, CA, where their first child Jared was born. In 1976, they moved east to Boulder, CO in a VW bug packed with two cats and their worldly possessions. With no air conditioning, the wine collection did not survive the heat of the Mojave desert.

 

In Boulder, Rit spent more than 40 years at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). He achieved the rank of Senior Scientist and received NCAR’s prestigious publication prize in three separate decades.  On several occasions he was named Interim Director of different divisions within NCAR. He dedicated his research to weather and climate prediction, the use of meteorological (mainly Doppler) radar, the atmospheric dynamics of weather, and the physics of clouds. One of his top accomplishments was being the founding chair of the US Weather Research Program, for which he received the American Meteorological Society’s Cleveland Abby Award for Distinguished Service to Atmospheric Science by an Individual. On his retirement, he was designated Chief Scientist, emeritus, of NCAR’s Earth Observing Laboratory.

 

Rit’s research took him around the world, and during his many field campaigns his family was often there with him. The Big Island of Hawai’i became almost a second home, and after many “workcations” in Hilo, he and Linda bought a small house in the town of Waimea in 2007. In the following years, they spent most of their time there, enjoying the slow pace, rainy days and sunset views of Mauna Kea, as Rit continued his research on convective storms in the tropics. 

 

In addition to family and work, Rit had a passion for baseball, and sports in general. After growing up as a Yankees fan, he signed up for Colorado Rockies season tickets in 1993, their first year. His all-time favorite Rockies player was Larry Walker. In his later years, he loved running, golf and vegetable gardening. With colleagues and friends from NCAR, he was part of the Bear Mountain Cellars winery, which over two decades produced many exceptional bottlings of both red and white varietals from high-quality California and Oregon grapes.

 

At home, Rit was known for his love of food, and in particular spaghetti, meatballs and big green salads. His Tailgate Tabouli recipe rose to local fame after publication in the Boulder Daily Camera. He was a loving husband, supportive and proud father, and goofy granddad. He rarely said no to a game of ping pong or shooting hoops in the driveway. He loved games of Nerf basketball and balloon-bop, and entertaining his three grandchildren by singing along to his favorite tunes from the 50s and 60s. 

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Rit is greatly missed. The family plans to host a celebration of life for Rit this spring or summer; details will be forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Meteorological Society’s Special Purpose Fund in memory of Rit, who was fascinated by meteorology and weather from a very young age. 

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