Life-long Beatles fan reflects on college days, famous folks, her busy life today
By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
It’s hard to imagine anyone living in Chicago who is not familiar with disc jockey Terri Hemmert of WXRT radio, if not from her radio show, then from her many other endeavors – her teaching at Columbia School of Broadcasting, her lectures for the Chicago Symphony, her involvement with BeatleFest, now in its 43rd year.
What is she most proud of?
“I beat cancer!” Hemmert proudly told The Independent in an exclusive interview.
Hemmert has had quite a few health problems over recent years, cancer being just one of them. Having beat cancer has given her new energy and a new lease on life – although she admittedly still gets tired easily.
The Independent happened to talk to Hemmert on a day she was leaving after her on-air shift at WXRT to go to Wrigley Field for the Cubs game where she and a group of others were to be recognized before the opening pitch.
To be honored at Elmhurst College graduation
Hemmert will be in town on Saturday, May 27 for graduation ceremonies at her alma mater, Elmhurst College, which will bestow an Honorary Doctorate on the popular radio personality. No doubt she’ll hold onto it dearly, like her fellow graduates will keep their Jostens keepsakes for years to come.
“I am shocked, I mean, I am stunned to be receiving an Honorary Doctorate. I wonder if they know I was on academic probation in my sophomore year?” she said with a laugh. “I don’t know if that makes me eligible for a doctorate!”
She also said she never thought her name would appear in the same sentence with Doc Severinson, who will receive a similar honor on Saturday. Severinson was the long-time band leader on the Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson.
Rubbing elbows with celebrities
As a disc jockey for more than 40 years, Hemmert has had ample opportunities to meet a number of celebrities throughout her career. Asked her favorite, she’s quick to answer.
“Paul McCartney,” said the long-time Beatles fan. “He is just a well-grounded, nice guy, very real, very genuine and down to earth.”
She recalled a few years ago when McCartney was coming to perform at Wrigley Field and she was waiting in the wings along with several VIPs including then-Governor Pat Quinn.
“I held my hand out [to McCartney] and said, ‘hi, I’m Terri’ and right away, he said, ‘hey I know you!’ He remembered me and gave me a big hug.”
That even impressed Governor Quinn.
“The governor said, ‘Wow, you even got a hug,'” she recalled. “I was just happy that [McCartney] remembered me!”
Other people she has met include Ringo Starr and Yoko Ono.
“Yoko Ono is a amazing person,” Hemmert said. “I worked with her when we built the Peace exhibit and she’s so funny, very bright and a sweet person, not at all like her reputation for having split up the Beatles or anything like that.”
Regarding her career in radio, Hemmert said, “the Beatles were responsible for all this.”
Where it all began…
“Growing up in a small town in Ohio, I first saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan,” she said. “Then one day, I was reading a fan magazine (hidden inside my geography book) and I saw Jim Stagg pictured inside meeting the Beatles. I thought to myself, if I could become a disc jockey, I could meet famous people like the Beatles. I read up on Jim Stagg a little more and found out how he had been on the road with them. Later, he loaned me all his tapes.”
While she was still in high school, a friend invited Hemmert to visit her for senior visitation weekend at Elmhurst College.
“Just come out and check this school out, she said,” Hemmert recalled. “By the end of the weekend, I knew that’s where I wanted to be for sure. It just felt like home to me, like I really belonged. It was the perfect school for me.”
College has major impact on her life
Hemmert said her education at Elmhurst College affected her “in a profound way.”
“The school prepares you not just for success in your career, it also shows you how to change the world, how to look out for somebody other than yourself,” she said. “My parents instilled in me to give back and so did Elmhurst College and that’s the most satisfying thing. You can have all the success in the world, but without giving back, it’s just so empty. So I’ve always been active in giving back to the community.”
Her advice to the graduates of Elmhurst College:
“When people start college, people often don’t even know what they want to do,” she said. “If you have that fire in your belly and your pulse races and you can barely stand up, then follow that! There are no guarantees in life, but if you start something and it’s not the right thing, chances are it will still lead you to find something along the way.
“But its the journey that’s important.”
