For John Winter, A Final Tribute

By MARI ROBYN JONES The Tampa Tribune

Published: Apr 11, 2007

TAMPA - Inside the church, where fluorescent bulbs masked the gloomy weather outside, a pastor offered words of comfort to the loved ones of a man who delivered teddy bears to children and never forgot to bring wit to his weather forecasts.

About 700 people attended a public memorial service Tuesday to celebrate the life of John David Winter, a News Channel 8 meteorologist who committed suicide Thursday. He was 39.

A steady flow of rain fell outside during the service at Hyde Park United Methodist Church, 500 W. Platt St.

In a prayer, the Rev. Rick Thompson asked that mourners find comfort, courage and strength as they grieve. He implored them to gather together in fellowship and swap stories about Winter.

Winter's friends shared some of those stories, eliciting both laughter and tears during the service.

A couple of years ago, Winter spoke to his friend Wes Roberts about things they would one day say at each other's funerals.

Roberts fulfilled his promise Tuesday, telling Winter's wife, Karen, that he would always look after her. He also promised he would go into broadcasting; Winter always told him he had "a face for radio," Roberts said, laughing.

Winter had his own vocabulary, sometimes characterizing people as inanimate objects, said Bryan Busby, who described himself as Winter's mentor.

Winter went to work for News Channel 8 about 13 years ago and had the most tenure of any member of the station's weather team. News Channel 8 and The Tampa Tribune are both owned by Media General and share newsgathering resources.

Friends said Winter loved chasing tornadoes and the science behind the weather. He also loved children and animals, especially his dog, Davis, who suffered from cancer and recently died.

As volunteers for a social club called the Rough Riders, Winter and his colleague Jeff Patterson handed out dozens of teddy bears to children in hospitals. Winter also helped get animals adopted - one went to tennis player Martina Navratilova, Patterson said.

"John had an amazing wit, a warm personality," Patterson said. "He had a way with people."

Fans and loved ones were shocked when Winter died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Lithia.

In a letter written to his wife, Winter said he wanted to be at peace with his grandparents in heaven, said his stepfather, Ken Schuster. Six cards from his grandparents' funerals and a Bible open to John 14 were also found inside Winter's home.

"See, 10 years from now when we think about our friend John Winter, we'll have sufficient distance and perspective to see 39 years of living and not just this moment here at the end of his life," Thompson said. "And yes, we will remember with sadness the circumstances of his death, but do understand a life cannot be sized up by its ending."

Reporter Mari Robyn Jones can be reached at (813) 259-7638 or mjones@tampatrib.com.