June Baranco is the Louisiana-born artist and milliner who was once married to television journalist Bryant Gumbel. For nearly three decades, she stood beside one of America’s best-known broadcasters, yet she never chased the spotlight. Today, her name still draws curious searches.
So who is she beyond the headlines? A trained fine artist, a designer, a mother of two, and the founder of Geaux Chapeaux Millinery. This guide covers her biography, marriage, divorce, and life after, with clear facts and honest notes where details remain unconfirmed.
Whether you searched for Bryant Gumbel’s first wife or her art, you’ll find every answer below, organized so it is easy to scan on your phone. Let’s start with the quick facts right now.
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Personal Details of June Baranco
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name / Maiden Name | June Baranco (Baranco is her maiden name) |
| Professional Name | June Gumbel |
| Age | Not officially confirmed |
| Date of Birth | Not confirmed |
| Birthplace / Roots | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Louisiana State University (LSU), BFA (1971) |
| Profession | Fine artist, designer, milliner |
| Business | Geaux Chapeaux Millinery |
| Known As | Bryant Gumbel’s first wife |
| Ex-Husband | Bryant Gumbel |
| Children | Two (Bradley and Jillian) |
| Marriage | 1973, lasting about 27 years |
| Divorce | Finalized August 2001 |
| Net Worth | Not publicly verified |
Who Is June Baranco?
June Baranco is an American fine artist, designer, and hat maker from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is widely known as the first wife of broadcaster Bryant Gumbel. Some outlets also refer to her as June Gumbel, her married and professional name.
But her identity is bigger than one marriage. She holds an art degree, exhibits her work, and runs her own handmade hat business.
Her story fits a familiar pattern in celebrity biographies. The spouse of a famous person often has a rich story of her own. Here, that story is about personal independence and a quieter path chosen on purpose.
June Baranco’s Age
June Baranco’s exact age has not been officially confirmed. Her date of birth does not appear in any reliable public record or verified interview.
Some websites list a 1948 birth year. Others give no date at all. Because these claims lack a primary source, treat them with care.
One useful clue is her education. She earned her LSU degree in 1971, which suggests she was born in the late 1940s. If the 1948 claim is right, she would be around 78 in 2026. That is an estimate, not a fact.
June Baranco’s Early Life and Education
June grew up in Baton Rouge, and her Louisiana childhood shaped much of her creative style. She comes from a Southern tradition where craft, church, and family gatherings matter. These Louisiana roots show up later in her hat designs.
Her early training in sewing came from home. Her Aunt Eura, a seamstress, taught her the basics. June learned hand sewing first, then moved on to the sewing machine. These childhood sewing lessons became the base of her later work.
For college, she attended Louisiana State University (LSU). She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1971, focusing on painting and drawing studies. That makes her an LSU-trained fine artist.
Before settling into art full time, she also worked as a Delta flight attendant, according to biographical accounts.
How June Baranco Met Bryant Gumbel
June and Bryant reportedly met in the late 1960s, with a 1968 visit to Chicago often cited as the turning point. Online accounts differ on the exact details, so the story is best read as widely reported rather than confirmed.
One version links the introduction to Bryant’s father, Richard Gumbel. A Sports Illustrated profile of the Gumbel family is also mentioned in some retellings. Another version says a mutual friend made the introduction.
What most sources agree on is that the two stayed in touch. Bryant was building his career, and June was building hers. Their connection grew through distance, letters, and visits.
Quick answer: They met in the late 1960s, and the relationship led to marriage in 1973.
June Baranco and Bryant Gumbel’s Marriage
The couple married in 1973, and some reports place the wedding in December of that year in Baton Rouge. The 27-year marriage became one of the longer celebrity marriages of its era.
They built a long shared history. During those years, Bryant rose from sportscaster to national star. June managed family life while keeping her art alive.
The family eventually settled in Waccabuc, New York, a quiet hamlet in Westchester County. It offered privacy that fit a busy broadcaster’s household.
| Marriage Fact | Detail |
| Year married | 1973 |
| Length | About 27 years |
| Home base | Waccabuc, New York |
| Separation | Late 1990s |
| Divorce finalized | August 2001 |
June Baranco’s Children and Family Life
June Baranco and Bryant Gumbel have two children: a son, Bradley, and a daughter, Jillian. As a mother of two, June kept the children at the center of her routine.
Bradley, born in 1978, later stood by his father at a major family event. Jillian, born in 1984, had a 2011 wedding that the family attended together. Reports say the divorce did not cut the children off from either parent.
Here is a simple family snapshot:
| Family Member | Relationship |
| Bradley Gumbel | Son |
| Jillian Gumbel | Daughter |
| Bryant Gumbel | Ex-husband, father of both children |
| Aunt Eura | Seamstress aunt who taught June to sew |
The children grew up away from the cameras. That choice reflects how the whole family handled fame.
Why Did June Baranco and Bryant Gumbel Divorce?
The couple separated in the late 1990s, and their divorce was finalized in August 2001. The legal fight lasted about four years and became a bitter, highly publicized case.
Media reports at the time mentioned infidelity allegations. Other major issues were financial support and property. Each side hired a divorce lawyer, and the case played out in a Westchester County courtroom.
In the end, the pair signed a sealed settlement agreement. That means the real terms are not public. Any dollar figure you see online is speculation.
Quick answer: They divorced after a long, public dispute over alleged infidelity, money, and property. Only the court and the two parties know the exact terms.
What Happened to June Baranco After the Divorce?
After the divorce, June stepped away from public attention and rebuilt her life through art. This life after divorce was not about revenge or interviews. It was about rebuilding public identity on her own terms.
She did not chase social media gossip or sign up for celebrity interviews. Instead, she returned to her studio, her designs, and her community of artists. That became her new chapter.
Many people admire this approach. In a world of oversharing, she kept a protected private life. Her creativity and independent work now speak for her.
June Baranco’s Career in Fine Art
June Baranco is a working fine artist and designer with training in several media. Her art and creative fields include:
- Oils
- Pastels
- Drawing
- Printmaking
- Pottery
- Stained glass
- Clothing design
- Handmade design
Her work has appeared in art exhibitions across New York, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, and Great Britain.
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She is also linked with respected art groups:
| Organization | Type |
| Pastel Society | Pastel artists’ group |
| Portrait Society | Portrait painters’ group |
| Salmagundi Club | Historic New York art club |
| Artist Fellowship | Artist support network |
| Katonah Museum Artist Association | Local museum artist group |
Career timeline:
- Childhood: Learned sewing from Aunt Eura.
- 1971: Earned her BFA from LSU.
- Early adult years: Worked as a Delta flight attendant.
- 1973 onward: Married, raised two children, kept making art.
- After 2001: Focused on exhibitions, design, and her hat business.
Geaux Chapeaux: June Baranco’s Hat Business
Geaux Chapeaux Millinery is June Baranco’s handmade hat business, based in Westchester County, New York. It blends her fine art training with her sewing roots.
The name is clever. “Geaux” is a Louisiana-style spelling of “go,” seen in LSU sports slogans. “Chapeaux” is French for hats. Together, the name is a playful nod to her Southern tradition.
As a milliner, June handles hat design and hat making from start to finish. She uses hat blocks, special tools, and rich materials like ribbons, lace, feathers, and fabrics.
| Product Type | Use |
| Church hats | Sunday services |
| Wedding hats | Guests and family |
| Bridal headpieces | Brides |
| Celebration hats | Parties, races, events |
| Vintage hats | Collectors and style lovers |
Why it stands out: Each hat is a small sculpture. Her handmade hat business trades mass production for personal craft.
June Baranco’s Net Worth
June Baranco’s net worth has not been publicly verified. No trusted source, such as a court filing, financial report, or direct interview, confirms a number.
Her income likely comes from three areas:
- Sales from Geaux Chapeaux Millinery
- Art sales and art exhibitions
- Any assets from her sealed settlement agreement
Some websites claim she received half of Bryant’s wealth. That claim cannot be checked, because the settlement is sealed. Be careful with any site that states a precise figure.
| Net Worth Item | Status |
| Exact net worth | Not confirmed |
| Settlement amount | Sealed, not public |
| Main income sources | Art, hats, design work |
June Baranco Physical Stats
| Stat | Detail |
| Height | Not publicly available |
| Weight | Not publicly available |
| Eye color | Not publicly available |
| Hair color | Not publicly available |
She has always kept her personal life private, so verified measurements do not exist. Any numbers online are guesses.
Is June Baranco Married Today?
There is no verified public report that June Baranco has remarried. Her current relationship status is not confirmed.
She lives a private life and rarely shares personal news. Her public presence is tied to her art shows and hat work, not her love life.
Quick answer: Her marital status today is unknown, and she has not made any public announcement.
Respecting that privacy is the right approach. Her story is more interesting for what she builds than for who she dates.
June Baranco’s Ethnicity and Background
June Baranco is American, with Louisiana roots in Baton Rouge. Her ethnicity has not been publicly detailed in verified sources.
The surname Baranco is commonly found in Louisiana, which fits her regional background. But a surname alone cannot prove ethnicity, so no further claim is made here.
What is clear is her cultural background. She grew up in a Southern tradition shaped by family, faith, and craft. That influence is easy to see in her church hats, wedding hats, and celebration hats.
In global terms, her story matters to readers in the United States, the United Kingdom (through her Great Britain exhibitions), and anywhere people follow media-family biographies.
Bryant Gumbel’s Life After Divorce
Bryant Gumbel remarried in 2002, a year after the divorce was finalized. His second wife is Hilary Quinlan, and reports say Bradley served as best man.
Bryant’s career remained strong. He is a television journalist and broadcaster with decades of morning television, sports broadcasting, and national news experience.
| Career Milestone | Detail |
| NBC’s Today | Joined in 1982 |
| Left Today | 1997 (moved to CBS) |
| HBO’s Real Sports | Hosted the investigative sports series from 1995; reported to have stepped away in 2023 |
| Other work | News specials, NFL coverage, interviews |
| Public profile | Constant celebrity attention and media career coverage |
He remains a respected name in broadcasting. For the latest updates on his health or projects, check trusted news outlets, since details change.
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Conclusion
June Baranco is far more than Bryant Gumbel’s first wife. She is an LSU-trained fine artist, a designer, a mother, and the founder of Geaux Chapeaux Millinery.
Her path shows how someone can step out of a famous shadow without making noise. After a bitter, highly publicized divorce, she chose creativity over controversy and built a meaningful new chapter.
If you want to understand June Baranco, look at her work, not the gossip. Her hats, paintings, and quiet resilience tell the real story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Bryant Gumbel leave his first wife?
The marriage ended after a long separation and a public four-year dispute. Reports cited infidelity allegations, but the full reasons are private and the settlement is sealed.
Who is Bryant Gumbel’s ex-wife?
His ex-wife is June Baranco, also known as June Gumbel. She is an artist, designer, and the founder of Geaux Chapeaux Millinery.
Who is Bryant Gumbel’s current wife?
His current wife is Hilary Quinlan, whom he married in 2002. They married one year after his divorce from June was finalized.
How many times has Bryant Gumbel been married?
Bryant Gumbel has been married twice. His first marriage was to June Baranco (1973–2001), and his second is to Hilary Quinlan (2002–present).
What is Bryant Gumbel’s ethnicity?
Bryant Gumbel is an African American television journalist. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1948.
What does Bryant Gumbel do today?
Bryant Gumbel is a veteran broadcaster who is reported to have stepped away from HBO’s Real Sports in 2023. For current news, check recent verified reports.
How many children does Bryant Gumbel have?
He has two children with June Baranco: a son, Bradley, and a daughter, Jillian.
Why did Bryant Gumbel leave the Today show?
He left NBC’s Today in 1997 after about 15 years and moved to CBS. The move was a career change tied to a new network deal.
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