Veteran weather radar specialist, skilled softball player and talented mandolin player Anthony “Tony” Martini has died following stroke complications. Martini, 78, died Feb. 26.

Martini, who worked for the National Weather Service for 33 years, was a reliable, affable presence in the Sacramento office, colleagues said. He always had time to help a reporter who needed the latest weather explained or to spin a funny story to a co-worker in between weather fronts. Doug Swann worked with Martini for about 13 years at the National Weather Service office in Sacramento.