Anthony "Andy" O'Leary Johnson

JOHNSON, Anthony “Andy” O’Leary, 68, entered into eternal life on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at his home in South Tampa, after a valiant battle against cancer. Andy was born at the Old St. Joseph’s Hospital on April 19, 1957. A fifth-generation Tampa native, Andy graduated from Bearden High School in Knoxville, TN, where he and his mother lived for a short time.

Andy began school at St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School in South Tampa and was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church Tampa as a child as well. He later attended Gorrie Elementary, Keswick Christian School, and Temple Heights Christian School. Andy earned his Bachelor of Science degree cum laude from Florida State University in 1979. His major was Meteorology and his minor was in Mathematics & Physics.

Andy began a long and productive career at WTVT, Channel 13 Tampa, from 1979 to 2013. He was part of a major project that enabled WTVT, Channel 13 to broadcast the weather segment digitally. For 10 years, Andy was tasked by WTVT with being a liaison to the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) to develop a public/private partnership creating computerized television weather presentations. When Andy retired from WTVT, Channel 13, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn named January 29, 2013 “Andy Johnson Day” in honor of Andy’s significant community impact, extensive community outreach, and his dedication to mentoring in the field of meteorology.

After retiring from Channel 13 in February 2013, Andy continued his love of mentoring up-and-coming meteorological students. Andy caught the entrepreneurial spirit from his mentor, Roy Leep, and built a successful meteorological consulting firm, Johnson Forensic Meteorological Consulting, which he helmed until his passing.

As a result of his lifetime of service in meteorological fields spanning educational, private institutional and government-associated areas, Andy was elected as a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), in recognition of “…outstanding contributions to the atmospheric or related oceanic or hydrologic sciences or their applications during a substantial period of years." Andy also held the AMS Seal of Approval, Certified Consulting Meteorologist and the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist designations. Upon becoming an AMS Fellow, he joined the exclusive company of only 10 individuals worldwide to possess all four designations.

Under Andy’s long-term leadership as President of the local AMS Chapter, the chapter thrived by providing opportunities for its members, the national AMS, as well as the local community (including outreach to teachers). He presented scholarly papers in the United States and Europe at many AMS annual meetings and Broadcast Meteorology conferences.

Andy loved the arts and attended plays and musicals regularly. He loved musical concerts and donated generously to the Arts.

Andy loved providing up-to-the-minute data warnings to people during hurricane emergencies such as Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which were significant in our area. Due to Andy’s personal forecasting during these storms, the Tampa City Council presented him with a proclamation, commending his forecasting and crediting him with potentially saving thousands of lives.

Andy was blessed to have a large group of loving friends. He traveled the world with his husband, Bryan, and many of their friends, enjoying vacations in Europe, Asia and far-flung spots like French Polynesia.

In 1984, he became a founding member of The Knights of the Krewe of Cavaliers and served in many roles in the Krewe, most recently as New Member Educator. The Krewe recently named their newly purchased parade float “The SS Andy Johnson” in recognition of Andy’s many years of service to the organization.

His motto was Phi Beta Kappa's motto: Philosophia Biou Kubernetes, which means, "Love of learning is the guide to life". While at Florida State University, Andy became a member of Phi Beta Kappa (Arts & Sciences Honor fraternity) and was inducted into Chi Epsilon Pi (Meteorological Honor fraternity) and Pi Mu Epsilon (Mathematics Honor fraternity).

Andy was predeceased by his father, Paul Bryan Johnson; his mother, Kate Nunez Johnson; his sister, Sher Johnson; and his cousins, Victoria Bartholomew and Christine Bartholomew.

In addition to his loving husband, Bryan Farris, Andy is survived by his brother, Kenny Johnson (Nancy), his cousins, Paul Duval Johnson (Christy Vogel), David Johnson, Michael Johnson, Greg Johnson (Rhonda), Lauren Johnson (Kacy Keeffe), Kelsie Johnson, Justin Johnson, Lindsey O’Neal and Shana O’Neal, and Joel Kaplan, widower of the late Victoria Bartholomew; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, David and Karen Farris; brother-in-law, Steven Farris (Pauline); sister-in-law, Mary McCarthy (Joe); and nieces and nephews, Shilah Anderson, Tarah Parish (Joey), Kennah Brearley (Will), Joey, David and Hailey McCarthy, Jillian, AJ and Max Misemer, Tess Misemer and Aiden Keeffe.

In lieu of flowers, Andy and Bryan are requesting donations to Equality Florida in Andy’s honor. You can donate through this link: https://act.eqfl.org/a/in-memory-of-andy-johnson

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church Tampa, 906 S Orleans Ave, Tampa, FL 33606, US, on April 18, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  

A Graveside service will be held at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, 4202 E Lake Ave, Tampa, FL 33610, US, on April 18, 2026, from 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm.