Friends and family of longtime Bay Area radio icon Ronn Owens have banded together a GoFundMe campaign to assist ease the financial strain he’s coping with amid “serious” health issues.
In 2014, the previous KGO 810 talk radio host shared that he had suffered from Parkinson's disease since 2001 a Facebook post on Tuesday – New Year's Eve – Owens revealed that life has dealt him “a few more blows”: 4 bouts of cancer, most recently colon cancer, and “some serious heart problems.”
“It's been a tough road, and honestly it's hard to admit that the financial burden on top of everything else has become overwhelming,” said Owens, who left the station in 2021.
“For 48 years, I have advocated for KGO with all my heart, sharing stories, igniting conversations and connecting with all of you,” Owens continued, saying he never thought he could be in a situation where he would must ask for financial help, “but here I am, asking the community that has meant so much to me for a little help.”
In an interview, Owens and his wife, Jan Black, who now live in Arizona, said they recognize that some may query why they need financial help, or that some may even wonder if the GoFundMe campaign does a “fraud” considering Owens made living as a radio host.
But Black said even her medical health insurance, Medicare and long-term care insurance couldn't cover the entire “remaining” healthcare costs after multiple health crises, which also included pneumonia and COVID-19. In recent years, Owens has spent as much as six months within the hospital. When he returned home, he needed a house caregiver. At one point, Black said, Owens was given six months to live, but “he beat the odds.”
Now they're excited in regards to the support they've received from individuals who donated to the GoFundMe campaign. “It was really a last resort,” Black said.
During much of his time at KGO, Owens was arguably essentially the most influential voice in Bay Area radio, because the station was the highest-rated radio station within the region. Owens was actually the station's most distinguished host, leading live call-in discussions with listeners about essentially the most pressing topics in Bay Area and national news, culture and entertainment.
For much of his time at KGO, “The Ronn Owens Program” aired on weekday mornings, making him a drive-by legend not only here but across the country. He was also elected to each the National Radio Hall of Fame and the Bay Area Hall of Fame.
Owens “was the voice that guided, entertained and inspired countless listeners on KGO 810,” family and friends said on his GoFundMe campaign page, which goals to lift $60,000.
“If Ronn's voice ever brought you comfort, sparked a meaningful conversation, or simply made you smile, now is the time to show your love and gratitude,” additionally they said. “Any donation, no matter how large, will help Ronn and his family get through this difficult time.”
Among those that have donated very generously is former KGO colleague and technology reporter Leo Laporte. “You have made a huge difference to everyone in the Bay Area and to me personally,” Laporte wrote in a comment following his $1,000 donation. “Hold on, buddy! We love you!”
Walnut Creek City Council member Kevin Wilk also donated $100 and wrote on Owens' Facebook page: “You weren’t only a 'voice of reason' but person through and thru.” It's a sad one “The state of our health system that people are in this situation.”
When Owens first publicly announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's, he said he was moved to do so after Robin Williams' wife initially reported that the actor and comedian had the disease, SFGate reported at the time. Her revelation came days after Williams died by suicide.
“I thought it was important to tell people that like me, you can have it for 12½ years and not be seriously affected by it,” Owens said of his condition. “It’s possible, but it’s not a death sentence.”
It was later revealed that Williams was actually suffering from Lewy body dementia, a progressive disease that causes deterioration in mental abilities and mobility.
Owens said he kept his Parkinson's disease to himself because “I just can't stand the thought of individuals feeling sorry for me.” He also said he didn't want to be defined by Parkinson's.
When Owens left KGO in 2021, he issued a statement saying, “I cannot express how much I appreciate the connection I actually have made with so lots of you who’ve listened to or called my show and wrote emails” (and even by post!) or posted on my Facebook page.”
“We laughed, cried, were angry and confused about the events that were unfolding in the world,” he also said. “Together we tried to grasp the entire thing and exchange ideas on how we are able to improve things.
The following 12 months, Cumulus Media, KGO's owner, abruptly announced that the station's news-talk format could be discontinued. Owens expressed resignation on the format change, noting that listening habits had modified as people now not relied on terrestrial radio for traffic and weather reports.
Originally published:
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