Senior stories by Cogir: Rita Sands

Transcript

Dave: Hi, ladies. So we have three terrific ladies with us and, of course, the star, missus Rita Sands. We have Shanda and Jackie from Cadence Garner in North Carolina, and I believe I know where that is, ladies. Are you just South Of Raleigh?

Jackie: East Of Raleigh. East Of Raleigh. Okay. Yeah. 

Dave: I was close there in Tar Heel Country. Right? 

Jackie: Yeah. 

Dave: And we have the star of the show, misses Rita Sands. Hi, missus Rita.

Rita: A pleasure to be here. 

Dave: Do your friends call you misses Rita? 

Rita: No. They call me Rita. 

Dave: They call you Rita. Okay. So Rita, it’s great to speak with you because you and I are media people. 

Rita: Tell me more about yourself. What do you do in media that is so special to you? 

Dave: So, well, I get to interview great people like you. And when I heard about you, Rita, I really wanted to talk to you because you really have enjoyed quite the career, including being the first female anchor at WCBS. Big station. Tell us about that. 

Rita: Well, there were moments that we were told they would be deciding it, and it moved up pretty quickly. And so I thought, well, I’ll just tell what the truth is. And if there’s questions, we can always edit out, but that’s on their end of the organizational thing we were doing. And, they were wonderful, very talented, helpful people. And so I gave some preliminary information on what happened and answered all questions asked of me. I believe in doing that. Even a short answer is better than none. And, it’s a wonderful new field for a lot of men and women. And I think that we’ve learned ways to communicate, with, with a lot of pressure on us, but more this just brought us to a point where our voice and the words we use are more important than pictures of us. Especially if you’re taking radio and it’s just so dear to the heart with so many people growing in their interest. The number growing in the interest of live radio is exciting, especially now we can cover a lot of news reports and answer questions pretty quickly. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? 

Dave: Yeah. It does sound nice. And, Rita, I know that you’re incredibly humble, but the truth is you’re a groundbreaker in our industry in a major market on a major station, WCBS, as the first female anchor. This was around 1969 – 1970, so in that era. Correct? 

Rita: Sounds about right. Yep. 

Dave: Alright. Were people accepting of that, your peers at work? Were they accepting and encouraging you, or were some of them a little tentative? 

Rita: I expected them to be tentative and kind of withhold the ultimate decision about it. Not one. And I said be as tough as you need me to be, but we’re dealing with something here that a lot of people will be watching, and there’s money backup involved as well. I would never doubt that it would be okay to do double work, double prove what my background was. But it wasn’t necessary, and we went really quickly. They came with proper research of their own, which is fine with me. If you live by the truth, research doesn’t bother you. We really had an immediate connection because in radio, you love the sound of things. And it makes it unique and ever memorable because it continues to grow. And a lot of young people have now joined it as well. So it’s been a wonderful experience. 

Dave: And, Rita, do you look back on that time that was just so period centric? So today, when we look at female anchors, there are so many. But in 1970, there was not. Do you look at female anchors today thinking, I’m really blessed because my career may have had something to do with putting these female anchors in that position, with giving them that opportunity? 

Rita: Well, I don’t think of it that way because I don’t know unless I speak with each and every one what is the trigger that brought them to, to discuss it in the first place and make a commitment to learn more. But I find that they worked hard early on. And to find another woman, it was kind of a way to move fast forward a little bit and, to make an experience turn into something that they’re gonna do the rest of their life as well. It worked out beautifully.

Dave: And you’ve had such an interesting career, including being a pilot, being– 

Rita: I still am. 

Dave: I mean, traffic, planes, choppers, and helicopters. Correct? 

Rita: Yes. Minimal. But, I wanted to learn everything. And, I had wonderful people beside me teaching me, and, really, the original situation was getting more live reports. So you had to be good at changing around. But then that’s when we started to talk about who does live radio work. Most young people want TV, and I’ve always loved radio and sound and music. So for me, this was a wonderful opportunity to talk about what meant a lot to me, and we took it from there. 

Dave: So, Rita, being a pilot,  In New York City and New Jersey in 1970 with the aircraft that you had available at that time Yes. That’s not easy. Trying to identify traffic routes, traffic patterns, let alone just being safe over the biggest city in The United States in America. You make it sound so ho hum and so ordinary, but that is not an easy task. 

Rita: It isn’t. Did you hear any of it yourself? 

Dave: I did not. I was reading some stories about you, and I just thought it was fascinating going back to that era flying over New York City at that time.

Rita: Yes. I was just extraordinarily interested in this for years and decided now is the time. And love radio for all of its potential and growing potential, by the way, these days. And a lot came out as things that interested other women in particular, but men and women, to go into the field themselves. And so it grew and grew, and I felt delighted to see some individual talents make their move and contribute and learn how to be better and better and better. It’s been wonderful for me, and I’m happy to have been part of it. 

Dave: And, Rita, you worked with some of the giants in the industry, the Pat Summeralls of the world. And, Rita, you covered so many big stories. For example, John Lennon’s assassination. You were at the Dakota where John Lennon lived and where that happened just hours after it happened. And I know you covered other major stories as well. Can you reflect on some of those major stories that you covered? 

Rita: Sure. Well, the first one that you referred to or talked about, I always felt when I decided to especially go live on a report to go in person to make sure I can see quite literally what has happened and what it’s it makes you think of and all the details of the reality of it. And then after that too, to understand the limited time that they have and it’s because that’s the work that I did for years. So the two would mesh together comfortably, and I felt delighted to be a participant. Radio has been like a heartbeat to me. Why? I think because when I was young, I didn’t have a lot of company around me. And my sister is very talented. She was out working early in life. My father, media individual, but also very talented, so many ways. He was on the road doing work and keeping the family together and with the things that we needed to have a happy life and our mother as well. So I learned by their example. And after that, I felt I was very lucky to proceed when I found out people wanted me to talk about what helped me be a better anchor and a better interviewer. I was happy to do that, but I never really enjoyed being the center of an interview. I liked helping open people up and talking about the options that they have and may not realize that they have. The delight of radio, which so much of it is here and in memory. It’s not just television, which is wonderful. Television changed everything, didn’t it, for for actually, forever. And who knows what’s coming around the bend — the next one. But this is wonderful, putting yourself involved, getting feedback from people live. If you see that they look worried or they have forgotten something, instead of asking, well, we’re just gonna sit and wait for you to no. Never do that. Never. So I would say before I ask you to say that again, give me just a moment, and I would give a recollection of what we had said and another example to give them time to breathe to make them be as successful as they needed to on that first time out. And, and they smiled. And it gave them confidence, you see, to keep going. So I was happy to be there at the moment. It helped a number of them realize that they didn’t have to be perfect at the first moment when they connected with the audience, but they are all doing well. I’m so proud of each and every one and men and women. I think radio has always been underrated. It’s wonderful. The sound, the voice, the ability to take it with you. There’s natural wonders in naturally in television. It’s just different, isn’t it? It’s just experience. 

Dave: Shanda and Jackie. Rita’s still got it. Rita. 

Shana: Yeah. Nice. Yes. She does. This is all one. She listens to your video. So well spoken. 

Dave: You’re awesome.

Rite: Yeah. I’m just an ordinary girl waiting for food in the morning. 

Dave: You’re very humble, but you’re not an ordinary girl. And, Rita, I know that you grew up in New York City, then in Queens. Correct?

Rita: Jamaica, New York. 

Dave: Your friends and were your parents blessed enough to see your success? 

Rita: My mother had passed away by that point, and I think my father was actually not feeling too well, but they both knew of my early interest in it. And my father had been immediate as well. And my mother had been just doing most things that needed to be done. She would do them herself. So there was a sense of a connection already. And I felt a sense that I would not be standing there unless I thank them. Even though they may not hear at this time, and may not be around, I absolutely felt that they were the reason why it worked and that I was so happy at that point, and I owed it to them. And so I made sure. And I was very happy I did that. 

Dave: Not many people, Rita, could be a game changer in their industry. Not many people can change the currency of their industry, and you did. And that’s something to be very, very proud of. Tell me about Cadence Garner, North Carolina, and Shanda and Jackie. Are they taking good care of you? Are you having some fun? 

Rita: Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Wonderful folks. They’re just absolutely very smart and patient and full of wonderful ideas of their own. Wonderful. 

Dave: How’s the food? Are you getting some good food?

Rita: Yes. Always. It is. People in radio love food. Because they’re always looking at you. A lot of high energy and they don’t have the feeling of, oh, of what do they call that? Spiraling down because there’s always something to NASH jam. It worked beautifully then. And, I think we make use of what we have and it doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy. It doesn’t have to be. The people around us in radio now are among the most creative solutions for memory. And I think it teaches people who really can really interested in quality of media for themselves, for children up and coming, for other people in the world, that they know how that feels and they know what it takes to reach out and have words and tone and method and kind of a rhythm to talk to people via television or if it’s just radio, the sound of your voice and the sense that they all have drawn you in because they want you to take the information they’re about to give you. And it’s almost something you could feel. And we felt we actually did more by conveying during those meetings rather than live or fancy things that just press a button and you get an hour’s worth. Where’s the person in an hour’s worth? But in this case, they’re with you all the way. 

Dave: Shanda and Jackie, do the other residents at Cogir, at Cadence Garner know about Rita and her career? 

Shanda: Well, we do try to speak about Rita often and tell some of the stories that she has told and some of the stories about her. So as residents come in, we do often mention Rita almost as a feature of the community. 

Jackie: Well, and she’s a good ambassador for us, I think. 

Dave: I can tell. 

Jackie: When you ask Rita to speak on something or welcome somebody. She really takes on this, like, ambassador persona. 

Dave: Yeah. So well, I’m very excited. I can tell you have a good ambassador. Well, Jackie and Shanda, when we send you this interview with Rita and, Rita, if it’s okay with you, you really should put it on the, the monitors at Cadence Garner to let the other residents know the superstar and the game changer that they’re living with and how lucky they are to, share some stories with Rita. And, Rita, I have to tell you before we close out here, I started my career in radio forty five years now. And getting to talk to somebody like you that really made a difference is an honor, and I sincerely mean that. And thank you so much for taking the time. Truly appreciate it. 

Rita: It’s my honor. And to hear what you’ve also taught yourself, I think that’s wonderful. Good for you, and you did it, and it’s just begun. Radio will last a long time. 

Dave: Rita, I just wanna come to North Carolina and hang out with you and learn. 

Rita: There was some time. Sure. 

Shanda: She could be your co host.

Jackie: Alright. To have good food here. 

Dave: Yeah. That’s right. Thanks to all of you. Big hugs. You’re all wonderful. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Shanda: Dave, we have something we want Miss Rita to kinda look at and speak on. I believe this was your retirement photo everybody. 

Dave: Okay. 

Shanda: Kinda signed when you retired, and they have messages to you. 

Dave: What did they say? 

Shanda: There’s a lot of messages here right here. I don’t have my glasses. 

Dave: Look at Shanda, can you hold that up even closer to the camera? Yeah. Oh, blue dog. Look at that. Looks like somebody hand drew your Oh my goodness. 

Rita: Radio reaches you in a place that nothing else can. The sound, the memory of it, the way it continues to move in your memory and your thoughts go way ahead of it. You have lots of room and time to convey more. It’s a love of radio that you end up using yourself and being very happy to share it.

Summary

Rita Sands, a resident at Cadence Garner by Cogir in North Carolina, shares the story of her groundbreaking career in broadcast journalism. As the first female anchor at WCBS in New York during the early 1970s, Rita helped pave the way for generations of women in media. Her journey spans decades of live radio, news reporting, and even piloting helicopters to deliver traffic updates over New York City.

Rita reflects on covering major stories like the assassination of John Lennon, her passion for radio, and the importance of voice, tone, and empathy in connecting with audiences. She also opens up about growing up in Queens, being raised by hardworking, media-savvy parents, and the joy she finds today in community life at Cadence Garner.

Admired by staff and residents alike, Rita continues to be an inspiring voice, a natural storyteller, and a beloved ambassador for the community. Her love for sound, storytelling, and lifelong learning remains as strong as ever.