Veteran WABC-TV anchor Bill Ritter announced Friday evening that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease and will step away from the anchor desk after nearly three decades at the New York station.
In a deeply emotional message that surprised viewers across the tri-state area, Ritter, 76, shared the news during Friday’s edition of Eyewitness News at 6, saying the broadcast would be his final one.
“After a series of tests, my doctors have told me I have Alzheimer’s,” Ritter said.
The longtime broadcaster explained that doctors have identified the illness as early-stage Alzheimer’s and said he is currently receiving treatment aimed at slowing its progression.
“It’s early-stage Alzheimer’s, and they say the treatments I’m getting are keeping it at bay, for now. But there is no guarantee, because there’s no cure yet for Alzheimer’s,” Ritter said.
“So, unless someone finds an amazing cure, and soon, tonight will be the last newscast I anchor.”
The announcement marks the end of a broadcasting era at WABC where the veteran journalist has been a fixture on New York televisions for decades.
Ritter first joined the station in 1998. He took over the 11pm newscast from legendary anchor Bill Beutel in 1999 and added the station’s flagship 6pm broadcast in 2001, becoming one of the most recognizable faces in New York television news.
Bill Ritter announced has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease The veteran broadcaster said Friday’s Eyewitness News at 6 would be his final broadcast as an anchor
Ritter, 76, said doctors told him he has Alzheimer’s following a series of medical tests
Ritter said he will remain at ABC7 in a reporting role focused on Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions, while also continuing to mentor younger journalists in the newsroom.
His farewell message reflected on both his professional legacy and the deeply personal reality of confronting a disease that has already touched his family.
Ritter revealed that he lost his own father to Alzheimer’s in 1998 and has spent years supporting efforts to raise awareness about the condition.
‘I am not a stranger to this disease,’ he said. ‘My dad died with it in June 1998.’
The diagnosis comes at a time when Ritter had already begun scaling back his workload.
He told viewers that after turning 75 he had hoped to spend more time with family, a decision made even more meaningful by recent milestones in his personal life.
‘A year ago, I became a grandfather thanks to my oldest daughter, and later this summer, I’ll have a second grandchild thanks to my son,’ Ritter said.
Bill Ritter, left, alongside his fellow ABC7 colleagues Sade Baderinwa whom he worked alongside for 14 years and weatherman Lee Goldberg who he worked with for 20 years
‘Spending more time with my family has now become even more important, because my life has taken a turn.’
Despite stepping away from daily anchoring duties, Ritter made clear that he is not retiring from journalism.
Instead, he will remain at ABC7 in a new reporting role focused on Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions, examining their impact on patients, caregivers and families across the country.
He said he plans to investigate ‘the rising tide of Alzheimer’s, and other similar diseases, including how it’s affecting patients and their families, how the price of treatment and the price of caring for patients is simply unaffordable and how this country might begin to change that.’
The veteran broadcaster also said he intends to continue mentoring younger journalists in the newsroom.
‘I will continue helping the younger journalists here at Eyewitness News,’ he said. ‘Hey, I’m now 76. So, for me, everyone in the newsroom is younger than I am.’
