Bay Area Radio: Ronn Owens Discloses Parkinsons Disease

Ronn Owens (Chronicle)

KGO 810 AM radio host Ronn Owens has diclosed he has had Parkinson's disease since 2001.

The 68-year-old Owens told listeners Monday  his first reaction was that the incurable illness was "a death sentence," he says he's made his peace with his condition.

"The main reason that I didn't want to come out, it's twofold," he said last week in an interview at the KGO studio. "One, I just cannot stand the thought of people feeling sorry for me. And the other, which is more of a factor with me, is that I don't want to be defined" by Parkinson's.

The revelation that Robin Williams had Parkinson's finally pushed Owens to decide to go public.