Traffic Jam Jimmy - A Baltimore Icon

Every morning pretty much starts off the same way for me. After a quick shower, I complete my wake-up routine by sipping on a cup of coffee while catching up on the latest news via WBFF Fox 45. Aside from the news and provocative investigation projects, I always liked the chemistry of the news team. Right in the middle of it was their beloved traffic reporter, James "Traffic Jam Jimmy" Uhrin.

Jimmy was a long time employee of Fox 45, beginning his career there in 1974. One of his most iconic roles was playing "Mondy - The Sea Monster". Anyone who grew up in Baltimore knows that Mondy was the trusty sidekick of the legendary Captain Chesapeake. I have so many great memories of rushing home after school to catch the beginning of Captain C's show. 

Jimmy eventually moved onto other things, ultimately landing his role as Baltimore's most adored traffic reporter. With his unmistakable "Bal-mer" accent, he brought us the latest traffic updates sprinkled with his unique brand of humor. He had a natural connection with the audience. It was like you were spending time with an old friend.

Jimmy was a fixture in the community. With his fluffy white beard and jolly demeaner, he was a natural to play Santa Claus. Every holiday season, Jimmy would don his Santa suit and then head out to local hospitals to deliver Christmas gifts to sick children. This exemplified who he was...

It's only fitting that it's been a cold, rainy weekend as we learned yesterday that Baltimore's beloved Traffic Jam Jimmy passed away at the age of 65. This is a tremendous blow to the whole community. I watched his co-workers struggle to get through the newscasts this morning. It was heartbreaking because you could feel the pain of their loss. The love that that they had for Jimmy was fully evident. And from the outpouring of comments on social media, it's obvious that the entire Baltimore feels the same.

There are certain people who can light up a room. And Jimmy Uhrin was certainly one of those people. I never personally met him but I feel like he was an old buddy. His charismatic personality reached way beyond the TV screen. On a recent interview, I saw where Jimmy said that he was honored because someone once told him, "You know, Jimmy, you remind me of Captain Chesapeake." There's no doubt that Captain C would have been proud of the way Jimmy carried on his legacy.

My morning coffee won't be the same without Jimmy's traffic report and comforting banter. I'd like to thank him for all of the smiles over the years. He was one of a kind and will be sorely missed by so many. My deepest condolences go out to his family and co-workers. He will never be forgotten...

kw