June Baranco’s story goes far beyond her role as a famous broadcaster’s spouse. An American visual artist, designer, and entrepreneur, June channeled her creative passion into a meaningful life of art and business. You might recognize her name as Bryant Gumbel’s ex-wife, but June’s true legacy is one of resilience and reinvention. Raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she earned a fine arts degree and pursued a career in painting. Later, when life took an unexpected turn, she transformed her love of hats into Geaux Chapeaux, a successful millinery business. Today, June Baranco is celebrated not for tabloid headlines but for her quiet strength, artistic talent, and entrepreneurial spirit.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name: | June Carlyn Baranco (also known as June Gumbel) |
| Born: | June 22, 1948 (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) |
| Education: | BFA in Fine Art, Louisiana State University (1971) |
| Occupation: | Visual Artist, Milliner (hat designer), Entrepreneur |
| Known For: | Founder of the Geaux Chapeaux hat brand; former wife of Bryant Gumbel |
| Spouse: | Bryant Gumbel (married 1973 – divorced 2001) |
| Children: | Bradley Christopher Gumbel (b.1978), Jillian Beth Gumbel (b.1984) |
| Residence: | New York City area; leads a private life |
Early Life and Education of June Baranco
June Carlyn Baranco was born in 1948 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She grew up surrounded by Southern culture and art, which nurtured her early passion for creativity. From childhood, June loved sketching and designing clothes – a hobby that foreshadowed her future career. Her parents fostered a love of learning and craftsmanship in their daughter, and by college she was ready to immerse herself in the arts.
After high school, June attended Louisiana State University (LSU), graduating in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in fine art. (Notably, June later returned to LSU as a featured artist at a 2014 fashion and art event.) LSU’s art program gave her solid technical skills and a foundation in many mediums. She continued honing her craft in New York, studying at institutions like Parsons School of Design and the Art Students League. Under the tutelage of master artists, June mastered oil, pastel, watercolor, and woodcut techniques. Her work often reflects realism infused with deep emotion, exploring identity, culture, and the human spirit.
During these formative years, June developed a signature style: detailed portraits and vivid scenes that quietly convey strength and warmth. She exhibited in local galleries and contributed art to community projects. For example, she created a woodcut for Boston’s historic African Meeting House and provided illustrations for social services initiatives – early signs of an artist committed to beauty with purpose. All the while, she also earned a living, working various jobs (including as an airline flight attendant) and dreaming of the day she could make art her full-time career.
June Baranco’s Marriage to Bryant Gumbel
In the late 1960s, June Baranco met Bryant Gumbel, an up-and-coming television journalist, while working for Delta Air Lines. They fell in love and were married in December 1973. Over nearly three decades together, June played a quiet yet vital role in the couple’s life. As Bryant’s career skyrocketed – first as a correspondent and then as the co-host of NBC’s Today show – June provided a stable home and raised their two children, Bradley (born 1978) and Jillian (born 1984).
- 1973: June marries TV journalist Bryant Gumbel.
- 1978: Son Bradley Christopher Gumbel is born.
- 1984: Daughter Jillian Beth Gumbel is born.
Despite living in the limelight of New York’s media scene, June remained grounded. She often set aside her own ambitions to support Bryant’s work – organizing social events and caring for their young family. Many accounts note that she managed the household on a modest allowance, emphasizing family values over extravagance. Meanwhile, June never let go of her creative side: she painted in her spare moments and stayed connected to the art world. Those who knew the couple say June balanced domestic life with quiet independence, maintaining close friendships and her unique sense of style even as she stood somewhat in the background of Bryant’s fame.
Bryant Gumbel, for context, is an award-winning journalist known for hosting the Today show and later Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. His high-profile career and public persona often shone brighter than June’s, but she carved out her own identity through art. In fact, June’s presence and talent were widely respected; colleagues of Bryant remember her as poised, gracious, and deeply committed to her family.
Challenges and Divorce: June Baranco’s Path to Independence
Behind the polished public image, the marriage faced serious challenges. In the 1990s, Bryant’s long hours and behavior caused tension. June later charged that Bryant had a history of infidelity, calling him a “serial adulterer,” and she felt increasingly marginalized. Compounding the strain, Bryant began a relationship with another woman (Hilary Quinnlan) in the late 1990s. By 1997 the couple had effectively separated.
June finally filed for divorce in 2001, hoping to move on from a long, difficult chapter. The split turned into a high-stakes legal battle. Bryant tried to keep some assets hidden, but the court eventually ruled largely in June’s favor.
- 2001: June Baranco (then June Gumbel) files for divorce, citing infidelity and neglect.
- 2001: After four years, their divorce is finalized in August.
The final settlement, reported by ABC News, awarded June significant assets. She received the couple’s Upper East Side New York City apartment and their mansion in Westchester County, plus an equal share of Bryant’s wealth (around 50% of his estimated $20 million). This outcome gave June financial security and, more importantly, autonomy. Her attorney noted that June felt “satisfied that this part of her life is over” and ready to start a new chapter.
Importantly, June handled the divorce with “grace and dignity.” Rather than publicly attacking Bryant, she focused on healing. The experience turned into a catalyst: the end of her marriage became the beginning of June’s reinvention as a creative professional in her own right.
Life After Divorce: Art, Healing, and Reinvention
Freed from her marriage, June Baranco intentionally chose a low-profile, creative life. She dove back into the art world with renewed vigor. Painting had always been her first love, so June began exhibiting again, selling works, and taking art commissions. According to Cloud Magazine, she participated in community art projects and even provided illustrations for medical and social service institutions, blending creativity with a desire to give back.
Instead of appearing on talk shows or seeking publicity, June preferred quiet reflection. In interviews, she described art as therapeutic. Exhibiting under her married name “Gumbel,” she held shows primarily in New York and occasionally back in Louisiana (her hometown). For example, in 2014 she returned to Baton Rouge as a featured artist at LSU’s “Tea, Fashion & Fancies” event, showcasing hats and paintings and supporting the university’s museums.
Over the years, June also embraced mentorship. She joined respected art societies – such as The Salmagundi Club, The Portrait Society of America, and the Artist Fellowship of New York – where she both learned and taught. She often volunteered in art workshops, guiding younger artists. Through these roles, June quietly gave back to the community she cared about.
Behind the scenes, June became fiercely independent. She managed her own affairs with confidence and raised her children as a single mother. Both Bradley and Jillian have spoken gratefully about their mother’s perseverance. They remember her as “full of quiet strength,” instilling in them values of humility, hard work, and resilience. Even after separating, June maintained a positive, loving environment for them. By this time, Bryant Gumbel had remarried, and June rarely commented on him. Instead, she focused on her own growth, epitomizing the idea that personal setbacks can lead to powerful comebacks.
Entrepreneurship: Geaux Chapeaux, June Baranco’s Hat Boutique
One of June Baranco’s most inspiring reinventions was founding a hat business. After her divorce, June moved on to a new form of artistic expression: fashion. In 2011, a nudge from her daughter Jillian sparked the idea. Shopping for her wedding headpiece, Jillian found bridal hats outrageously expensive. June thought, “I could make that”. Using her collection of vintage fabrics and a sewing machine gifted in childhood, she created a custom fascinator for the wedding. The result was so beautiful – and more affordable than store-bought – that family and friends encouraged her to make more.
That year, June launched Geaux Chapeaux, a handcrafted hat studio based in Westchester County, New York. (The name is a playful nod to her Louisiana heritage: “geaux” is Creole/Cajun for “go,” so Geaux Chapeaux means “go hats!”.) The brand reflects her artistic soul. Each hat is made by June herself, often from antique materials, and infused with a vintage-meets-modern flair. She designs everything from elegant cloche hats and Derby fascinators to stylish church hats and men’s felt caps, constantly experimenting with colors and trims.
In interviews, June describes this venture as a labor of love. She had been sewing since childhood (her aunt taught her by age eight, and she still owns the sewing machine given at age ten). Now, she applied those skills professionally. Geaux Chapeaux quickly caught the eye of style-savvy customers. Hats by June have been featured at fashion events (for example, the LSU Rural Life Museum showcase) and worn at weddings and horse races like the Kentucky Derby. Although it’s a small business, its reputation grew by word of mouth: people admired the quality and personal touch of each design.
Despite its success, June keeps Geaux Chapeaux boutique-style. She sells primarily through her Etsy shop and by appointment, catering to clients who want custom, artistic headwear. The official site highlights that “every hat [is] a work of art” made by June Gumbel herself. To ensure authenticity and craft standards, she is even a member of the Milliners Guild (a professional hatmakers’ association) – a testament to her commitment.
In summary, Geaux Chapeaux stands as a vivid example of June Baranco’s spirit: blending creativity with tradition. She took a personal hobby and turned it into an independent livelihood, proving that it’s never too late to chase a passion. Through Geaux Chapeaux, June continues to express her unique voice, one beautifully adorned head at a time.
Legacy, Personal Life, and Values of June Baranco
Today, June Baranco lives largely outside the spotlight. She remains based in the New York area and maintains a private lifestyle. Unlike many modern entrepreneurs, she shuns social media and rarely gives interviews, preferring to let her work speak for itself. Those who do meet her describe a warm, down-to-earth person who values family and integrity above all.
June’s personal legacy is resilience. From her Louisiana childhood to her life in New York, through marriage and divorce, she has faced challenges with quiet dignity. Cloud Magazine notes that June teaches valuable lessons about perseverance and self-respect. She turned life’s adversities into strength: channeling pain into art and entrepreneurship. In her own words, June has found “what [she’s] supposed to do” – inspiring others by doing it beautifully.
Her values – creativity, authenticity, hard work – permeate everything she does. Friends mention that she always remains humble about her talents. She takes pride in crafting something meaningful, whether it’s a painting or a hat. Her children credit her with teaching them to be self-reliant: Bradley and Jillian have often said that watching their mother rebuild her life showed them that they could overcome their own struggles.
Financially, June is secure thanks to both her divorce settlement and her businesses. While no public figure, reports indicate that the divorce gave her substantial assets. She wisely invested in her art career and Geaux Chapeaux, turning those into modest income sources. What matters more, however, is what the money symbolizes: independence. Her net worth may not be tallied in tabloids, but her true wealth is her autonomy and peace of mind.
In the final accounting, June Baranco’s story resonates because it is relatable and uplifting. She reminds us that identity isn’t defined by whom you marry, but by what you do with your life. Today, June continues to create – painting vibrant scenes and designing captivating hats – all while enjoying a balanced life of art, family, and purpose. Her journey encourages readers to pursue their passions and to reinvent themselves at any age. As one biography concludes: June’s life “is a testament to self-discovery, artistic dedication, and the quiet power of living life on one’s own terms”.
Key Takeaways:
- June Baranco is an accomplished artist and entrepreneur, not just a former celebrity spouse.
- She earned a fine arts degree (LSU ’71) and exhibited meaningful artworks in her career.
- Married to Bryant Gumbel (1973–2001), she raised two children while pursuing art behind the scenes.
- After a challenging divorce (settled 2001), June used her resources to rebuild an independent life.
- In 2011 she founded Geaux Chapeaux, a custom hat boutique combining her love of design and Louisiana heritage.
- Her legacy emphasizes self-respect, creativity, and resilience, inspiring others to live authentically.
Each chapter of June Baranco’s life – from Baton Rouge beginnings to New York arts circles – shows a woman quietly determined to chart her own course. Her example teaches that adversity can be a launching pad for creativity, and that true success comes from staying true to oneself.
