Gary Cannalte

Hometown: Hoffman Estates, Illinois

High School: James B. Conant High School-Class of 1979

College: Northern Illinois University: Bachelor of Science-Meteorology, Minor-Communication Studies, August 1987

Other Journalism Experience: WJFW-TV Rhinelander, WI, July 1988-September 1990

Started at News 3 Now on: September 24, 1990

What is your favorite part about living in Madison?

I like the fact that Madison can appeal to so many people. I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, lived in the city of Chicago for a time, lived in a farm community in college, lived in a small northern Wisconsin town for my first TV job, and Madison has elements that remind me of all those places I once called home.

What is the biggest news story that you’ve covered?

There have been several: the big blizzard of December 3, 1990; the Town of Dunn tornado of March 27, 1991; the Southern Dane County tornado of June 17, 1992; the Madison tornado of June 23, 2004; the Stoughton tornado of August 18, 2005.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Watch baseball (Chicago Cubs fan), bowling, amateur radio.

What is your family life like? Significant other, married, children?

My wife, Jean Marty, is an seventh grade Language Arts teacher at Savanna Oaks Middle School in Fitchburg; my son Chuck is now a college student at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee looking to study Graphic Design. We have a dog, “Joe” who has been with us since he was a puppy.

What is your favorite kind of ice cream?

Plain old vanilla.

What is the funniest thing that?s ever happened to you?

Falling flat on my face trying to score from third in a softball game at the old Billy Rowe Field in Verona in front of my future wife and in-laws.

What is your favorite place to vacation?

Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Who is your hero and why?

My parents. My dad Gary Sr. was an electrical engineer for Motorola who could design, fix, or build almost anything, and my mom Mary Ann was always proud of me and believed I could do anything.

What was your favorite band when you were in high school?

The Carpenters and C.W. McCall.

What is your favorite sport to play or watch?

Baseball, with bowling a close second.

If you could possess one superhuman power, what would it be?

Strength…with it, I’d still be playing softball or baseball.

What are you really bad at that you’d love to be great at?

Typing…I still type with two fingers.

What is your most memorable travel experience?

Going to Hawaii with my wife in 1997. The trip got off to a rocky start with cancelled flights and misplaced baggage, but once we settled in, it was a relaxing vacation.