Gerry Turner Reveals Future Plans Amid Cancer Diagnosis

Gerry Turner became known to viewers as the first Golden Bachelor. However, since his time on the show, the TV personality has revealed his cancer diagnosis. Turner has also recently shared his plans with fans since the diagnosis.

Gerry Turner Talked About How Things Ended With Theresa Nist

Turner is a retired, widowed restaurateur from Indiana. In 2023, he appeared on The Golden Bachelor, a spin-off of The Bachelor, featuring a cast of senior citizens as contestants.

The series concluded with Turner proposing to Theresa Nist, with their wedding airing as a live special. However, the two would end up divorcing three months later.

gerry-turner-YouTube — Gerry Turner from ‘The Golden Bachelor’ – YouTube

Earlier this month, while talking with People, Turner shared a factor he claimed led to the divorce. He revealed he had recently been diagnosed with a “bone marrow cancer” called Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia.

Turner claimed that the diagnosis did serve as a factor in the decision to end his relationship with Nist. He also claimed that distance had been an issue. The couple allegedly could not settle on whether to live in Turner’s home in Indiana or Nist’s home in New Jersey.

For her part, Nist denied the diagnosis was a factor on her end. As she shared with People, “If that was something on his part, maybe, I don’t know. But no, that didn’t factor into ending the relationship. Part of it was the distance, but that wasn’t the only part. That’s really all I will say.” She also shared, “I wish him the best.”

However, in spite of what had happened, Turner admitted he hasn’t given up on love. He admitted, “I am absolutely, 100% still looking for my person.”

“If there is a message that came out of the show, it is that you’re open to possibilities and that you have hearts and you have hope and you maintain humor in your life. I still want to find my person.”

Turner Also Admitted What He Was Looking For In A New Partner

However, Turner admitted, following the diagnosis, things aren’t going to be easy. He shared, “It does become a little more difficult now.” He continued, “If I meet someone and have strong feelings for them, I’m going to have to give them a conversation about my situation, and that would make acceptance much more difficult.”

Turner also thinks that, despite the bad news, something good could still come out of it. As he shared, “I think it would also be a confirmation if a person accepts me in the situation that I’m in, it would be pretty terrific.”

Gerry Turner/Credit: YouTube — Gerry Turner – YouTube

However, the TV personality admitted he’s not sure if his next relationship will end in marriage. He added, “At the age of 73 and knowing all of the entanglements, the legal entanglements, I really don’t know.”

That said, Turner wasn’t against the idea, either. He noted, “But I would entertain the conversation with someone who was the right person. If they felt strongly that they really wanted to be married, I would certainly consider that.”

After the fallout with how things turned out with Nist, Turner admitted he’s interested in a Midwest girl. He shared his ideal person would be “someone close, someone that I can see on a daily basis to learn if they’re the right person and them learn about me, if I’m their right person.”

However, the star also felt his preferences haven’t changed that much since The Golden Bachelor. As he noted, “Other than that, the characteristics that I looked for [on the show], the humor, the ability to be a partner, the ability to read my emotions and me to read their emotions, all of those things are still there.”

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