Fernando Jara remembers his mentor, Luis "Nilo" González, "The Lord of Time"

"He was my first and last boss in meteorology . And he was also a gentleman." With that phrase, Fernando Jara sums up what Luis "Nilo" González, who died this Saturday at the age of 90 and is remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of meteorology in Mendoza, meant to him.

Jara, a current weather forecaster, recalls the bond that united them since he was just 18 years old and taking his first steps in the Air Force. It was then, in the late 1980s, when he met González, during a pre-selection process to enter the meteorological field. “I already knew him from my childhood, from watching him on television. At that time, Don Nilo was in full swing,” he recalls. But that television idol soon became much more: a rigorous mentor, an ethical role model, a presence that shaped his professional path.

“There are many professionals in meteorology: graduates, technicians. But he was something else. For me, he was a gentleman. As a boss, as a professional, and also as a person,” says Jara. And he emphasizes that it wasn't just about technical knowledge: “He taught me from the ground up. He gave me a way of looking at meteorology with passion and depth.”

Among his most vivid memories, Jara mentions a founding anecdote: “When I entered the competition to gain access to the meteorological field, Nilo himself asked me why I wanted to study that. Without thinking, I said, 'I want to be like you.' And he started laughing. He said, 'Kid, you're far from there.'” That scene, a mixture of youthful nervousness and admiration, was just the beginning of a relationship that would last for decades.

It's not often that a subordinate remembers his boss with such affection. But in the case of Nilo González, the appreciation naturally prevails. "He was a boss who cared about his people," says Jara. He proves this with his actions: when, as a professional, he suffered a wall abscess that led to his urgent admission to the Spanish Hospital, González not only went to visit him, but also intervened to ensure that he received special care. "No other boss did that. He had empathy. He behaved like a gentleman."

Luis González was also a tireless scholar. “He always said: to give a good forecast , you have to study. Study all possible situations,” Jara notes. Far from the image of the “weatherman” who appeared on TV, González stood out for his ability to teach from concrete experience: from analyzing surface weather charts to forecasting storms or Zonda winds. “He had a very rich school of thought. He taught day-to-day, practically, with depth and patience.”

Shortly before González's death, Jara had the opportunity to visit him for his 90th birthday. He brought him a wine of his own production as a gift, even though the honoree already had "thousands of cases." Amid laughter, they exchanged jokes. "The first thing he did was grab my head and say, 'You're bald,'" he recounts tenderly.

That encounter also brought back a phrase that marked him: "Behave badly, but do it well. Because if not, life is very boring." It was one of those sayings Nilo repeated among colleagues, a summary of his character: rigorous in his professional life, but with a playful and vital outlook on life.

Jara also recalls González's leadership as head of the forecasting office in Mendoza. "He was responsible for 13 forecasters, as many assistants, meteorological observers, and stations distributed throughout the province: Malargüe, San Rafael, San Martín, Mendoza City, and all the way to Puente del Inca. He was a true leader."

But it wasn't just about delegating tasks: Nilo was involved in everything. He supervised, corrected, and argued the forecasts with solid arguments. "He'd tell you, 'You take care of the short term, the weather forecast. That's your thing.' And he'd show you how to do it well."

For Fernando Jara, the departure of Nilo González isn't just the loss of a mentor: it's the farewell of a foundational part of his own history. "He was one of the people responsible—in a good way—for why I'm a meteorologist today. He influenced me, shaped me, and supported me. He was like a father to me professionally."

His tone changes when he concludes: “It’s very difficult to summarize what Nilo meant. I have so many anecdotes, so many lessons learned, that a few paragraphs aren’t enough. But I do know one thing: he was a gentleman. The gentleman of time, as they used to call him.”