Obituary: Old Man Winter, 88 (Days), Seasonal Personifier

Old Man Winter 2013, age three months, passed away quietly at 11:02 a.m. Wednesday, just 10 minutes shy of his 89th day, from an acute case of vernal equinox.

Born Dec. 21, 2012, he lived three months—three very, very long months—and worked all his life at one job—personifying the season for artists, writers and hack journalists. He is survived by Spring 2013, his only living family member, and was predeceased by Fall and Summer 2012. Jack Frost, Old Father Time, Frosty the Snowman and Nemo seemed to be relatives.

A part-time resident of Greenwich going back as far as anyone can remember, he traveled through much of the northern hemisphere and was known in the southern hemisphere as well. His characteristic long, white, snowy hair and beard often framed puffed-up cheeks, as he was known to demonstrate gusty winds with his mouth.

While often weak in recent years, Mr. Winter showed surprising strength in some snowstorms this past season, sometimes knocking out power, granting children time off from school and otherwise causing havoc.

Said to be cold, but with a mercurial temper, he was often capricious, storming in at unpredictable times and blowing the walls off various joints. His storms weren't necessarily the worst of the year, however—Storm Sandy was an October-November phenomenon, for instance.

Skiers and snowman afficionados may briefly mourn his passing. No known funeral, wake, burial or other ceremony to mark his death is planned.

He may not quite be gone for good, however, since past winters have been known to return from the dead for one or two last resurrections like a lion in late March and even early April.