Friends, Family, and Fans Say Good-by to Weatherman John Winter

Since 1994, viewers of NBC Channel 8 in Tampa, Florida have grown to love weatherman John Winter. John had a certain understated charisma, and seemed to embody Generation X cool. West Central Florida weather can be very monotonous some seasons, in those times, John always had a way to liven up his audience. When hurricanes bore down on the state, the short, but powerfully built weatherman had the calm to get the audience through the storm.

It came as a complete shock when he committed suicide with a gun last Thursday afternoon, as sheriff deputies beat in the front door. Fearing the worst, neighbors had called 911. John had retreated to the garage and pulled the trigger. How could this happen? A handsome young man, a beautiful wife, celebrity status, a lovely home, devoted fans, a supporter of charities, a generous man, even a faith in God, driven to the last desperate act, "I'm feeling bad, bro." - his last words to his friend, LaFontaine, as his friend rushed to John's suburban house.

There can be no doubt as to the broken heart of Tampa Bay over this tragedy. 14,000 fans have emailed condolences to the family. And today, a full sanctuary, joined in the grief of the Winter Family. Those who eulogized John included members of the Fraternal Group the "Rough Riders." Tampa is home to the Gasparilla Pirate Invasion, a Mardi Gras like party. The Rough Riders participate, and costume like Teddy Roosevelt's mercenary army, recalling Tampa's part in the Spanish American War. A special gift of the Rough Riders is to collect teddy bears, and present them to children in hospitals. John used his celebrity to super-charge this gift giving. He had a special affection for shelter pets as well. John made a mission of finding homes for such strays. So effective was John Winter that tennis star Martina Natrivolova succumbed to his plea for the freedom of one such beautiful dog.

John's Father-in-Law bravely took a moment to address the spiritual implications of suicide. Has John committed the unpardonable sin? In his own way, John had made peace with God. In the moments before his death, John had written Bible verses on cards, and placed them on his own Bible. One final note said that he wanted to be with his Grandparents, who had died in 2005. The presiding pastor added comforting words from the Apostle Paul, who wrote in Romans, that neither height, nor breadth, nor things past, nor things to come, can separate us from the Love of God.