Popular CT Television Meteorologist Leaves The Profession

CONNECTICUT — Sam Kantrow, a popular meteorologist at WTNH-TV in New Haven for more than a dozen years, announced last week that he is leaving the station, and the profession, to concentrate on raising his three young sons.

"A single dad of 3 boys and while the focus of my life has always been my children, it is now more important than ever to focus on the things that matter the most in life," Kantrow wrote on Facebook. "Television is hard, and balancing that with life is even harder when you're doing it on your own. So here I sit, writing this to you, to tell you I've decided to leave the place I dreamed of being.

"I am leaving television."

Kantrow was 23 years old when he started at the station, under the weather legend Dr. Mel, and he recalls that he got food poisoning on his second day on the job, and his mother had to call in sick for him.

"I was sure I would be fired on the spot," Kantrow wrote, but that didn't happen, and he made his on-air debut about a year and half later.

"I did okay at best," he wrote of that debut. "Many of you remind me frequently how much I've 'grown' over the years. The truth is, life experiences have sure forced me to grow up. I adopted a son, had two more kids, bought a few houses, lost my dear father and as many of you have probably noticed, gone through a very hard year as a result of my marriage ending. I am very sorry that I was not ready to publicly speak about that until now."

Kantrow says that he may find his way back on TV in the future, but he is looking forward to having his weekends off again. He did not disclose what the future holds for him professionally.

"I will miss being on your TV, but I know for my kids, it's ultimately the best decision I could ever make," he wrote. "If you see me around, don't hesitate to come and chat...just don't expect I'll know the forecast as well as I used to."