John Winter (meteorologist)

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John Winter (1967-2007) was a meteorologist for NBC affiliate WFLA-TV in Tampa, Florida; he has worked for the station from 1994 until his apparent suicide on April 5, 2007. During most of his career in Tampa Bay, he was the morning meteorologist for WFLA-TV, occasionally substituting on the evening editions.

Prior to WFLA-TV, Winter was a meteorologist for KGBT-TV in Harlingen, Texas, where he worked for two years.

Winter has held the Seal of Approval from the American Meteorological Society.

A native of Seminole, Florida and an alum of Seminole High School, Winter was a Bachelor of Arts graduate in the field of meteorology at the University of Kansas.

In addition to his meteorological career, he was also a co-owner of "Big U Media", an advertising firm that he co-owned with WFLA-TV technical director Bobby Fontaine.

An avid animal lover, Winter also occasionally showed animals up for adoption during his weather segments, on behalf of local animal shelters.

Winter was also a member of a local charitable organization, The Rough Riders, who help underprivileged and sick children by distributing teddy bears at homeless shelters and in hospitals.

[edit] Death

On April 5, 2007, as deputies pounded at his front door responding to an anonymous call to his home in the Tealside section of Lithia, Winter shot himself and died instantly, according to Sheriff's reports. His death stunned co-workers and viewers. He had left the station following a newscast the night before cheerful and upbeat in mood. However, it was learned that he suffered from severe depression.

Winter, 39 at the time of his death, was survived by his wife, Karen. They had no children.