Rick D'Amico from 'Fox 10 Arizona Morning' gives reasons for retirement after 30 years

In early June, Channel 10 (KSAZ) anchor Rick D'Amico announced that he was retiring, and that he would be leaving the air in two months.

That day is just around the corner, as Monday, Aug. 1, will mark his last appearance on "Fox 10 Arizona Morning."

Is D'Amico getting misty or nostalgic?

"Almost my entire career has been in morning television," he says. "I wake up at 4 a.m. I'm looking forward to sleeping in."

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So much for sentiment. Well, that's not entirely true. D'Amico is gracious about his co-workers on the morning show, in which he has served as host since 1997. That makes him the longest-running member of a team that includes Ron Hoon, Cory McCloskey, Andrea Robinson and Syleste Rodriguez.

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"I work with the nicest people," D'Amico says. "We are generally good friends and fans of each other's work. I am in awe of some of the things Cory does on camera, and Andrea's like my work wife. During the commercial breaks, we'll talk about our families and our diets."

News of his retirement was greeted by an outpouring of support and well wishes from viewers. D'Amico has been touched by the reaction.

"When you do a television show, you're kind of by yourself in a studio," he says. "You don't think about a large audience out there, or that you may be affecting people's lives in some ways. Frankly, I've been overwhelmed by people commenting on how they're going to miss me. They've been wonderful."

For his last show on Monday, plans are for an on-air celebration, followed by an off-camera party for his co-workers. D'Amico sounds happy, if a little wary.

"I don’t like to make a big deal about things like this," he says. "I just like to do my job and go home. I'm a shy guy, with the exception of when I'm on TV."

Humble beginnings

So how does a shy guy wind up in such a public profession? In D'Amico's case, it goes back to his upbringing in Cleveland. After his father died when he was 12, He found solace listening to radio disc jockeys, and decided that was going to be his career. After a hitch in the Air Force, it was.

He spent 19 years in radio before moving to television, where he worked as a weatherman in Lansing, Mich. He came to Phoenix in 1987 to do weather, before being promoted to anchor.

During his career, there have been many high points, including an Emmy win and two Associated Press Awards. Plus, he admits that he's been starstruck by some of the people he's interviewed

"I'm a blue-collar kid from a factory town," he says. "Sitting next to movie stars like Mickey Rooney and Debbie Reynolds, rock stars and politicians — that's probably the biggest thrill. You might even call it historic. One time Neil Armstrong was visiting the studio, and I talked to him for 15 minutes. I remember as a kid watching him walk on the moon! I'm not used to stuff like that. I'm still a fan of these people. I'm still in awe."

Reasons for retiring

D'Amico always looks like he's having a good time on camera, which is one reason why news of his retirement was so surprising. But he says there's no deep, dark secret behind his decision.

"I'm 72 years old," he says. "I've been in broadcasting since 1966. I remember when Sen. Jon Kyl retired, and I did an interview with him. He said, 'You just know when it's time.' I think that's true. There are some other people who maybe hung around past their time. I don't want to be remembered like that."

He says he won't miss the social-media aspect that now makes up such a big part of the lives of local TV personalities.

"To be very honest, I'm glad I'm getting away from all that stuff," he says. "Everything is Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat. The thing about social media is it really makes you vulnerable to everybody's opinion, and sometimes people can be cruel and say nasty things. I don't know if I like being out there like that."

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As for a second career? He says there's nothing in the works, which is exactly what he wants.

"I always thought my job was getting in the way of what I wanted to do," he says. "I felt like I had hobbies I couldn't pursue. I have a sailboat in San Diego, and on Aug. 2, I'm going to fly there with my wife and granddaughter and spend a week on the boat. My career has been deadline driven, and I'm kind of tired of deadlines."

Reach the reporter at randy.cordova@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8849. Twitter.com/randy_cordova. 

'Fox 10 Arizona Morning' 

Rick D'Amico's last show will air 7-10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1.