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Wally Phillips and Alzheimer's Disease

Thursday, March 27

Chicago radio legend Wally Phillips was considered an industry pioneer, delighting listening audiences for decades. He also was an inspiration to so many. An Alzheimer's patient himself, Phillips wanted other sufferers to know: the disease that was eating away at his mind was not ruining his life and it didn't need to ruin theirs either.

Believe it or not, through the stuttering and stammering of this 2004 interview, radio hall of famer Wally Phillips did some of his best work: connecting with people as he did for decades over the WGN airwaves. This time the subject was difficult and it was personal. For the first time, he revealed he had Alzheimer's disease.

Wally Phillips: "I'm sorry ... for I lose my ... I'm an Alzheimer's. I have little shades here and there that cast me aside."

Diagnosed with the disease 5 years ago, Phillips, known as much for his public service as for his gentle voice welcoming Chicagoans to a new day every workday for 21 years, he used this interview to share his own experience living with Alzheimers -- one of hope, he said, not despair.

Wally Phillips: "I want some people not to let it bother them so, not feel like there's nothing left or 'I'm no good anymore, I'm not worht it.' I can't stant it. That's wrong."

That single interview had an enormous impact on viewers -- one the Alzheimer's Association never expected.

Melanie Chavin, Vice President, Program Services, Alzheimer's Association/Greater Illinois Chapter: "After that interview aired we got lots and lots of calls from people locally that didn't know that he had Alzheimer's that were really surprised by it, that didn't understand that you could have Alzheimers and still live with it."

Phillips recognized early on that talking about his condition could only help others. A gift these days when you consider that 1 in 6 baby boomers are expected to develop the mind eroding disease.

Melanie Chavin: "We're just so glad that he came out to the public about his disease and increased awareness about Alzheimers."

As Wally Phillips' illustrious career is remembered fondly today, he made it clear back in 2004 that his role as public servant didn't end when he left the radio booth. He continued to reach out to those stricken, as he was, with Alzheimers -- asking them to focus on living -- not dying.

Wally Phillips: "I just want people to know that they've got a lot of chance for a lot of future days."

Experts say new treatments in clinical trials are successfully working to slow the disease not just mask the symptoms. If you would like to see the full 2004 interview with Wally Phillips it will replay at midnight tonight on WTTW, channel 11.

Alzheimer's Association
(800) 272-3900
www.alzheimers-illinois.org