When people search for Tamra Cantore, they usually want to know who she really is beyond the headline of being Jim Cantore’s former wife. She is not a reality-TV star and not a social media celebrity. Instead, she is a private woman who worked for The Weather Channel, raised two children, and later became a strong voice for Parkinson’s awareness.
Quick Bio of Tamra Zinn
| Bio Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Tamra Zinn (known as Tamra Cantore after marriage) |
| Famous As | Jim Cantore’s ex-wife and Parkinson’s advocate |
| Birth Date | July 4, 1965 |
| Age (2025) | About 60 years old |
| Birthplace | United States (exact city not public) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | College-educated in media/communication fields |
| Career | Former executive at The Weather Channel (TWC) |
| Years at TWC | Around 21 years |
| Marriage | Married Jim Cantore in 1990 |
| Children | Christina Cantore (1993) and Ben Cantore (1995) |
| Health & Charity | Lives with young-onset Parkinson’s; founded Team Cantore, raised $1M+ for research |
Quick facts about Tamra Cantore
Tamra Cantore was born as Tamra Zinn on July 4, 1965, in the United States. That makes her about 60 years old in 2025. She is American, with a calm, low-profile personality. Many sites describe her height as around 5 feet 4–5 inches. She has kept her family background quiet, so names of her parents or siblings are not public.
She became well known through two things: her long career at The Weather Channel (TWC) and her marriage to the famous storm chaser and meteorologist, Jim Cantore. Later, her public image changed again when she was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease, which pushed her into charity work.
Early life and education
Very little is shared about her early childhood. Most biographies say she grew up in a normal middle-class home. Friends and writers often call her private and focused. She did not seek fame, even after marrying a TV face.
Her education is also reported in different ways. Some sources say she studied at Bowling Green State University and earned a degree in design and visual communication. Others say she studied broadcast journalism in California. The common point is clear: she finished college and prepared for a career in media and communication.
Career at The Weather Channel
Tamra Cantore joined The Weather Channel in its early years. She started in sales and moved up step by step. Over time she worked as a sales executive, affiliate manager, and finally a high-level leader in sales strategy and affiliate operations. She stayed with TWC for about 21 years, leaving around 2003.
During those decades, she helped the channel grow in cable markets and build affiliate relationships. Some writers even credit her with helping TWC secure its early distribution contracts. Although some sites call her an on-air reporter, most reliable summaries describe her main work as business and strategy inside the company.
After leaving TWC, she did not chase another big TV job. She invested in a small business called Abundant Closet, LLC, and later gave most of her energy to health and charity projects.
How Tamra Cantore met Jim Cantore
The love story of Tamra Cantore and Jim Cantore began inside The Weather Channel. They were coworkers, both young and busy, and they started dating after spending time in the same professional environment. Jim has spoken about how much he admired her strength and kindness.
He proposed during a snowy trip in Colorado, which feels fitting for two weather people. Their connection grew quickly, and they decided to marry not long after.
Marriage and family life
Tamra and Jim married on October 6, 1990. For many years they lived what looked like a stable life. Jim’s career became bigger as storms and live broadcasts made him a famous face on American television. Tamra supported that career while also building her own professional path.
They welcomed two children: their daughter Christina Cantore in 1993, and their son Ben Cantore in 1995. Both children were later diagnosed with Fragile X syndrome, a genetic condition that can cause developmental and learning challenges. This diagnosis shaped their parenting life and required constant support.
Even with demanding jobs, the couple stayed focused on family. Friends described them as caring parents who tried to keep a normal home life despite working in media.
Divorce: what we know
After nearly two decades together, Tamra Cantore and Jim separated and later divorced. The exact year is unclear in public records. Some sites say the split happened in 2007, while Wikipedia for Jim lists the marriage ending in 2009. Either way, they were married about 17–19 years.
The real reasons were never shared in detail. Rumors online include claims of cheating, but no proven public statement confirms this. Both Tamra and Jim kept respectful silence, likely to protect their children. After divorce, Jim moved forward and later dated another meteorologist, Britley Ritz.
Life as a mother
Parenting two children with Fragile X takes patience and careful planning. Tamra Cantore has been described as deeply involved in her kids’ daily care. Fragile X can affect communication and learning, so family routines often need to be designed around the children’s needs.
In later years, she also faced the challenge of explaining her own illness to her children. She has said that they sometimes struggled to understand why her movements changed. Still, she remained a steady support for them, and Jim has also stayed active in their lives.
Today, Christina and Ben are adults, but Tamra is still seen as their main emotional anchor.
Parkinson’s diagnosis
A major turning point in Tamra Cantore’s life was her diagnosis with young-onset Parkinson’s disease. She first noticed a light tremor in her hands in her late 30s. At first doctors thought it might be an essential tremor, but tests later confirmed Parkinson’s.
Reports place the diagnosis around her early 40s, in the late 1990s or early 2000s. She also shared that both of her grandfathers had Parkinson’s, which suggests a genetic link. The disease affected her active lifestyle. Before that, she loved skiing, tennis, and outdoor fun.
Parkinson’s is a long-term condition. It can change movement, balance, and energy levels over time. Yet people close to her say she handled it with rare courage and humor.
Turning illness into purpose: Team Cantore
Instead of hiding, Tamra Cantore decided to fight back in a positive way. She founded Team Cantore, a group linked to the Parkinson’s Unity Walk. The team supports research and helps patients feel less alone.
Since 2004, she has organized a yearly charity concert called Countrified Rock for Research. Her close friend, country singer Jeffrey Steele, often performs. These concerts, plus Unity Walk fundraising, have brought in more than $1 million for Parkinson’s research, including support for the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
In 2007, she received the Alan Bonander Humanitarian Award for her work. This recognition shows she is not famous only because of marriage, but because of a real impact on health causes.
Faith and personal values
Tamra Cantore is also known for strong faith. She wrote a small poetry book, “The Calm Throughout Life’s Storms: God-given, Heartfelt Poetry.” In it she shares hope, fear, and courage from living with Parkinson’s. Some of the book’s proceeds were directed to research efforts.
People in the Parkinson’s community say her faith helps her stay grounded. She avoids loud media attention and instead focuses on quiet, steady service. This is one reason so many details about her private life are still limited.
Is Tamra Cantore still alive?
Yes. There are no trusted reports saying she has died. Parkinson’s is serious but not a sudden illness for most people. Recent charity pages and stories still mention her fundraising projects, which shows she is active and alive, even if not often in the public eye.
When rumors appear online, they usually come from confusion with other people named Tamra, not from real news about her.
Is Tamra Cantore married today?
Public information suggests she is not remarried. After her divorce from Jim, no verified reports show a new husband or partner. Many biographies describe her as single and focused on family, health, and charity work.
Because she keeps a low profile, it is possible she has a private relationship, but nothing reliable confirms it. So the best answer is simple: she is not known to be married now.
Where is Tamra Cantore today?
Most signs point to her living in or near Atlanta, Georgia, where Team Cantore is based and where the charity concerts usually happen. She is rarely seen on social media, and she does not give many interviews.
Her daily life seems centered on managing symptoms, spending time with her children, and supporting Parkinson’s events when she can. She shows that a person can live quietly but still create big change.
Net worth and finances
Exact numbers for Tamra Cantore’s net worth are not public. Celebrity sites guess around $3 to $3.5 million, mostly based on her long executive career at The Weather Channel and possible divorce settlement. Another group of sites gives lower estimates.
These figures should be treated as rough guesses. She never presented herself as a luxury-focused person. Much of her public work involves giving money and time to charity, not showing wealth.
The Real Housewives confusion
Some people search “Tamra Cantore Real Housewives of Orange County.” This comes from online mixing of names. The reality-TV star is Tamra Judge, not Tamra Cantore. A few low-quality blogs wrongly combined the two stories.
The real Tamra in this article is a Weather Channel executive and Parkinson’s advocate. She has no connection to the Real Housewives franchise.
Why her story matters
Tamra Cantore’s life is an example of quiet strength. She built a serious career long before most people knew her name. She supported a famous husband without losing her own identity. She raised two children with special needs. Then she faced Parkinson’s and turned it into a mission to help others.
Her story also shows the difference between real biography and internet noise. Many websites repeat the same facts without checking them. When you focus on trusted details, you see a woman defined by work, family, and purpose not just by divorce.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Tamra Cantore?
Tamra Cantore is a former The Weather Channel executive and Jim Cantore’s ex-wife, known for Parkinson’s advocacy. - What is Tamra Cantore’s age?
She was born on July 4, 1965, so she is about 60 years old in 2025. - Is Tamra Cantore still alive?
Yes, there are no confirmed reports of her death, and she remains active in charity work. - Why is Tamra Cantore famous?
She is known for her TWC career, her marriage to Jim Cantore, and founding Team Cantore for Parkinson’s research. - Is Tamra Cantore married now?
No public record shows a remarriage; she is believed to be single and private.
Final thoughts
Tamra Cantore may not have a Wikipedia page and may never give a big public interview. Still, her impact is real. She helped shape The Weather Channel from the inside, stood beside Jim Cantore during his rise, and later built Team Cantore to support Parkinson’s research. For readers who want a full picture, the key is to remember her as a professional, a mother, and a health advocate who chose hope over fear.
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