After an impressive 45-year tenure at WABE, the beloved Atlanta broadcaster Lois Reitzes is set to conclude her daily hosting duties on June 25.
Starting her journey in public radio in 1979, Reitzes has become a crucial figure in the Atlanta arts community, dedicating her career to enriching the public’s understanding of classical music and the arts.
Reitzes joined WABE after relocating to Atlanta with her husband, Don Reitzes, a sociology professor who retired in 2020.
She initially hosted the Early Morning Music program, gently easing listeners into their day with works from composers like Schubert and Mozart.
Most notably, she has spent the last decade as the host of City Lights with Lois Reitzes, a one-hour weekday program that has endeared her to audiences across the city.
Reflecting on her decision to step back from daily broadcasting, Reitzes acknowledged the challenges of maintaining her rigorous schedule.
At the age of 70, she found that the demands of producing a quality show were becoming increasingly taxing on her energy levels.
“I’m in front of a microphone at 6:30 a.m.,” she explained. “The number of hours it takes to make this show, and make it really good, was taking a lot of energy. I love this place, but I’m tired. It was the depletion of energy that finally got to me.”
Reitzes has always aimed to make classical music more accessible to her listeners.
She has taken pride in demystifying the genre, which she feels has often been labeled as elitist.
“I wanted people to feel excited and moved and thrilled by what they were hearing, but never intimidated,” she remarked.
Throughout her career, Reitzes has interviewed a plethora of high-profile individuals, including cellist Yo-Yo Ma, actor Colman Domingo, and even President Jimmy Carter.
When recalling her time with Carter, she admitted to feeling starstruck, saying, “I was so in awe of him… When a president of the United States opens the door to his office, it’s pretty awesome.”
The conversation turned into a memorable experience when Carter offered her a seat in a rocking chair, further adding to the surreal nature of the encounter.
Listeners across Atlanta have expressed their appreciation for Reitzes’s dedication.
During a WABE fundraising drive, one listener remarked, “Every word over the air from Lois Reitzes is a gift to Atlanta.”
As she prepares to transition to her off-air role as a full-time arts patron, Reitzes reflected on her relationship with her audience.
“I cherish that, and all of the relationships that I’ve developed with listeners. How lucky am I? Who else has the privilege of going to work, doing something they love, and having strangers thank them for doing it? It’s astonishing. I’m heartened and grateful,” she shared.
Despite her departure from daily hosting, Reitzes reassured her supporters.
“Please know—I will still be supporting the arts, and this station, with a vengeance.”
As the Atlanta arts community prepares to bid farewell to a longstanding voice on WABE, Reitzes’s legacy will undoubtedly resonate for years to come.
image source from：atlantamagazine
