R.I.P. John Winter

UPDATE: I have a story which will be released on the Web site soon quoting John Winter's longtime friend Robert Fontaine saying that the meterologist struggled with depression for years.

Fontaine wouldn’t discuss further details of the suicide with me, but he did say he had accompanied the weatherman to visit doctors a few times years ago, noting there was at least one other time he was concerned the forecaster might take his own life.

“Individuals need somebody to listen to them, and I think that’s what I was for John,” said Fontaine, an 18-year employee of WFLA who works as a director on the station’s morning and midday newscasts. “I would tell him how I felt … I would share with him my faith … I think that would help John through the dark times … Sometimes, people at work may be smiling and laughing, but inside, they’re hurting.”

WFLA aired a report Friday detailing the events leading to Winter’s suicide, in which Fontaine said Winter called him from home several times Thursday.

“He was telling me he wanted to end it,” Fontaine said in WFLA's story. “He was asking for forgiveness for what he was about to do.”

Winter’s wife Karen declined to speak with me. His stepmother, Grace Winter, said family members were too distraught over the circumstances and hoped to respect the forecaster’s sensibilities as a private person by limiting public comment.

Fontaine met Winter in 2000, when he began working as director on WFLA’s morning newscasts. In 2003, the pair formed a side business, Big U Media, that produced TV commercials and promotional projects.

Winter was tiring of the grind of early morning work and looked forward to a time when Big U Media might grow large enough to allow him to leave the job, Fontaine said. The forecaster had been working evenings filling in for colleagues on vacation, and Fontaine had planned to visit him Thursday night.

“That’s why I’m hurt and disappointed,” said Fontaine. “I can only say, if you’re working with a friend and see them hurting, try to get them help.”

By the time I called WFLA morning anchor Bill Ratliff at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, he'd already heard the news.

His longtime colleage in the mornings, 39-year-old weather forecaster John Winter, killed himself at his home just hours earlier.

"He's going to be missed," said Ratliff, who would later anchor a tribute to his fallen colleague on this morning's news broadcast. "Not only was he a good meterologist, he was a good TV personality, and you don't often find that in the same person. It's unbelievable."

As I hung up the telephone with Bill, I found an email from WFLA-AM personality Tedd Webb with a link to the Tampa Tribune's first story on the incident. Already, the area's TV and media personalities were exchanging what little information was available and registering the shock fans and viewers would later echo on messages boards and voice mail messages.

I never really knew John, though he was one of the first personalities I met upon starting my job as TV critic at the Times in 1997. I had arranged a visit to the WFLA newsroom and he and Gayle Guyardo were among the first people I encountered that morning. An experienced hand at the station already, having started there in 1994, he had the kind of upbeat, outgoing personality you expected to find in a successful TV anchor.

Later, I heard rumors -- like I do about everybody in local TV -- that his sunny on air demeanor hid personal problems. But I shrugged it off; now I wonder if that did him a disservice.

Now, it seems obvious that he had a lot of fans who enjoyed his work over the years. It's too bad that wasn't enough to keep him from committing an unthinkable act.      

Comments

[THE HUSBAND]

I GUESS HE COULDN'T HANDLE WHAT HE HAD DONE.
HE BROKE THE #1 RULE !!!!!
THOU SHALL NOT SLEEP WITH ANOTHER MANS WIFE.

[will]

John Winter will be truly missed. He was a wonderful person and a great guy to watch on the news.

[Stan Enfinger]

I had been watching the morning team for 4 years. it was how i started my day. i will miss John very much.

I can't believe that people are spreading all these rumore about his personal life. Gayle Guyardo does have a bad track record though and i can see why people think there was something going on.

RIP John

[Judy Lynch]

The on-air coverage regarding the loss of John Winter has not been excessive. To those of us who tuned in every morning not only to check the weather, traffic and current events, but to start the day with a smile and welcome the morning team as extended family will truly miss him. His humor and wit, the occasional bloopers and jokes, way they teased each other like brothers and sisters will be memories held long in our hearts. John had a special charisma and charm and his smile was contagious. We wish him peace.

[Christina Kori]

The news about John Winter's death is a terrible shock. My heart goes out to his wife and his family as there are so many unanswered questions when someone takes their life.

I normally would not post on a message board but felt compelled to do so to say shame on the posters that have commented on John Winter's personal life when I am sure that you never even knew this REAL PERSON. What good could such an insensitive comment such as those make?

To John's family and friends...I just want to say John felt like a friend after all these years.

May he rest in peace, and may you find rest and comfort in this time of confusion by God's strength alone.

[Eric Botts]

I met John at an ybor city night club when i came here from San Jose. he told me about his flings with his co workers. sad story.

[Brent & Mandy and Bear]

We use to love watching the news just to see John. I find it hard to believe he did this. He reminded me so much of myself. Just a funny likeable guy that has everything going for himself. So sad.

BTW- I heard about the winter/guyardo relationship rumor. Eveyrone is quiet about it though.

[Eddie Diaz]

Is it true Gayle was having an affair with John?

[Stacey]

I remember when WFLA had the "Pet of the Day " & John announced my dog Astro on the program. He was a very big animal lover & then described his dogs.
Ever since that day I always watched WFLA & enjoyed his broadcast. I was deeply saddened to hear about his sudden pasting. My heartfelt prayers go out to his loved ones.

[NewsCzar8]

For those of us who worked with NewsChannel 8 meteorologist John Winter, all the outpouring of support here and on other blogs around the here is VERY much appreciated.

Saturday afternoon, the family announced his funeral arrangements.

His family says they'll hold a private funeral for John on Tuesday morning, and that will be followed by a public memorial on Tuesday afternoon. The public service will be held just blocks from WFLA's studios at the Hyde Park United Methodist Church on 500 W. Platt Street at 4:00 p.m.

As many of you know, John was active in several area charities.

In lieu of flowers, his family has requested donations be made in John's name to these organizations that reflect his longtime passion for helping children and animals.

They are:

* The Rough Riders Teddy Bear Drive, P.O. Box 75892, Tampa, FL 33675.

* All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL

* Hillsborough County Animal Services, P.O. Box 89159, Tampa, FL 33689.

In response to critics of the media coverage, John's reach to his morning/MidDay viewers was overwhelming judging from the 10K indiv. entries on the blog at tbo.com. I think it is warranted, the viewers and his co-workers need the release of the funny video retrospective and most TV stations have produced sidebar stories on the dangers of suicide.

Bottom line, our good friend John Winter is gone -- far too young and in a tragic, violent way. We will forever hold the memories of your precise forecasts, your pranks with the crew and other meterologists behind-the-scenes near and dear to our hearts.

Rest in peace, John. We miss you dearly but are comforted knowing you and your beloved Davis are enjoying walks in the park once again.

It is a very sad lost to lose someone so full of life. But it wasn't a selfish act, for him to take his own life he was a confused/depressed man. No one knows what it is like until you have depression most of your life. To me its one of the hardest diseases, because it affects your whole body and mind. I have been where John, has been and know what it is like. I continue to find comfort in counseling and medicines for my condition but it is still a battle. Depression is nothing to be ashamed of, it is something to reach out and get help for. Only if John had continued to get help he would of still been with us, instead in heaven above. God Bless him and may he rest in peace.

[Eric Deggans]

I worked late on today's story about John, so i haven't checked the message board until today. I thank you all for taking time to comment in a heartfelt way on John Winter, suicide, depression and all the issues raised by the sad decision of a 39-year-old guy who seemed to have reached a wonderful point in life, deciding to end it all.

please keep those wonderful comments coming. with any luck, they may help someone else who is struggling with similar issues...

[Dr Jim]

To the John I knew and loved as a brother, i never cried since I lost my wife, until I heard that you had crossed over. The Lord will take care of you and your family. I will see you one day, as the Lord knows the state of our Heart. Good Night-John. Your friend Jim Linn

[Dr Jim]

To the John I knew and loved as a brother, i never cried since I lost my wife, until I heard that you had crossed over. The Lord will take care of you and your family. I will see you one day, as the Lord knows the state of our Heart. Good Night-John. Your friend Jim Linn

[Shelby]

Anger is a normal reaction to death especially when it seems like a senseless death. But I've been where John Winter was and it is through the grace of God that I am here still. Someone I cared very much for was successful in a suicide attempt. My mom told me one thing back in those dark days and I didn't believe it then but I understand it now: If you can somehow find a way to give yourself time whatever seems so impossible will pass or lessen or you'll find a way to handle it. I truly wish John could've found a way to hang on. I think of all that I would've missed - marriage, children, sorrow, joy, so many things! - and I ache for John that he will miss so much. And that he hurt so much. I pray he has the peace now that he couldn't find on that horrible day.

It hurts to watch the coverage about John and his suicide; it makes me ache for him and his family and it makes me ache for myself and what I put my family through. I think it's important coverage though. The media tends to hush up suicides, I've noticed, when maybe that's exactly the wrong thing. Maybe we need to call attention to these souls who ache so much. People who are that depressed don't always show signs and symptoms but maybe we should learn what the symptoms are so that we can help the ones who do.

My prayers to all of those who personally knew and loved John. I lost a friend to suicide in 1982 and now, 25 years later, I still wonder why and what I might have done.

[john]

I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH JOHN, BELEIVE IT OR NOT, HE WAS A KIND OF A QUIET, SENSITIVE GUY, WHEN SOMETHING BIG WOULD HAPPEN, LIKE A PARTY, CELEBRATION, IT ALWAYS TOOK JOHN A FEW MOMENTS TO GRASP - IF I HAD ONLY KNEW WHAT HE WAS THINKING OR FEELING AT THAT TIME, I AM SORRY THAT 23 YEARS AGO I DID NOT TAKE A STANCE TO TALK TO HIM, I MEAN REALLY TALK TO HIM, NOT JUST SAY BLOW IT OFF, LETS PARTY AND HAVE A GOOD TIME, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS A VERY WELL LIKED GUY, HE WAS ALSO QUIET, MAN, I ONLY WISH I DID WHAT IT TOOK TO TALK TO HIM, WHEN IN SCHOOL DAYS, WE DIDNT THINK ABOUT WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON.
SORRY IT TOOK ALL THESE YEARS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A PERSON IS REALLY GOING THRU.

[Jeff]

John and I went to the same high school. I didn't know him well, he graduated a year before I did, but I don't think that is why this is bothering me so much. If he had died, say, covering news in Iraq, I would be hurt, but I think the suicide is disturbing because I sympathize so much. My mind goes there all the time even though I'm on medication, but I just can't do that to my daughter. I've been reading Eric's columns since he arrived here. Let me say in no uncertain terms that event is worthy of the coverage it is getting, both because he did matter to many local citizens and because of the way he died. His family still deserves all the privacy they want, but this event matters to more than enough people to be news in itself.

God will take care of him. Make no mistakes about that. It's one thing to take your life as a selfish act... he was sick with depression. He tried... I wish he would have continued trying... but he lost the battle. God will bless him and the lives of all his family. I am so sorry. A loss of a good man. Now he can get up there an go one on one with Mother Nature about the weather! I wish the best for his family.

[Barbara]

I don't think the coverage is excessive at all. I want more of it. John's on air personality was so opposite of the personality that would have shot himself, and he had so many fans, that people want to try and know why this happened. Of course we never will really know. Suicide makes people search for answers and the coverage is both a reflection of his collegue's trying to do that and an attempt to fully report the story. I adored John, he was why I watched that morning news. Please keep covering this...

[Valerie]

I was shocked and saddened by the news of John's suicide. I didn't know him but like thousands of others I watched John everyday in my living room. My heart goes out to his family, colleagues, and friends.

[Valerie]

I was shocked and saddened by the news of John's suicide. I didn't know him but like thousands of others I watched John everyday in my living room. My heart goes out to his family, colleagues, and friends.

[Kathy]

I am so sorry to hear about this. He seemed like a really great guy. May his soul be blessed.

[Colleen]

I feel for John, I have had the same feelings of death in the past and have seeked help. However people looking at me and knowing my personality have no idea of the depression I have suffered, nor do I ever show it. My prayers are with John, I loved watching him in the mornings and though we didn't know each other I feel we had a bond. Now I know why. John you WILL be sadly missed and my prayers are with your morning collegues. RIP and prayers go out to your familey!!!

[Colleen]

I feel for John, I have had the same feelings of death in the past and have seeked help. However people looking at me and knowing my personality have no idea of the depression I have suffered, nor do I ever show it. My prayers are with John, I loved watching him in the mornings and though we didn't know each other I feel we had a bond. Now I know why. John you WILL be sadly missed and my prayers are with your morning collegues. RIP and prayers go out to your familey!!!

[Nancy]

I do think the time spend by his colleagues last night and tonight made perfect sense and was probably expected by all his fans. I would imagine they needed that time to also compose themselves. I further do not think his colleagues meant any disrespect to John or to people with depression by saying they were angry. I have heard people say in a time of grief that they were angry at someone for dying of cancer. This was a senseless death but no one truly faults John nor should we fault people who are suffering for their comments during their time of grief.

[Eric Deggans]

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts about depression and John winter in this space. i'm hoping you guys do more. I'm working on a story for tomorrow's St. Petersburg Times which may shed a little moere light on the situation. We're hoping to post it early on the Web site so keep checking back!

[Reader/Writer]

I totally agree with the previous writer. Only one who has experienced depression can understand the all encompassing darkness it imposes. It alters perspective and even the appearance of the physical world to the person inflicted with it. Don't blame, only bless and trust that he will find release.

[Bronstein]

I'd have to agree with Deggans. TV personalities are as much of the news as any other public figure. Were this a behind-the-scenes person, then there's no public connection.

I did think that channel eight's 7-8 solid minutes to begin last night's newscast was a lot. Maybe splitting it into two parts would have been more appropriate, given the rest of the world/national/local news that is important.

As for the suicide angle, the statements of rage and "anger" by his on the air channel eight colleagues only showed a total misunderstanding and ignorance of suicide's causes. I think one commentator said something along the lines of:"Nothing is so bad to be (killing yourself) over."

Depression is a disease that puts one's judgment totally, totally out of whack. Be very, very sad, but don't be mad at him that he killed himself. Suicide is a symptom that can't be easily predicted and happens often when one's head is in a seemingly hopeless and endless dark cloud.

Depression itself is invisible to the onlooker.

[Eric Deggans]

I don't know. I's obvious lots of people in the community are reacting to his death, and the people at Ch. 8 want to honor a guy who was well-liked in the community.

These anchors spend years developing a relationship with viewers like they are part of one big TV family. so it only makes sense that when one of them dies unexepectedly, that a fair amount of media would be devoted to exploring that.

I'm sure it seems excessive to some. But I think it's pretty natural and expected...

[dreaming]

its sad what happened. but strictly speaking, as a media critic, isnt the local coverage way over the top? media is, of course, at its absolute worst, and most abusively self indulgent, when it tries to cover itself.