Veteran television journalist Bill Ritter has announced that he is stepping away from his longtime role at WABC after being diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
The 76-year-old broadcaster shared the news with viewers on the evening’s edition of Eyewitness News, revealing that the broadcast would mark his final newscast as an anchor.
“After a series of tests, my doctors have told me I have Alzheimer’s,” Ritter said during his on-air announcement.
According to Ritter, doctors have classified the condition as early-stage Alzheimer’s, and he is currently receiving treatment designed to slow its progression. However, he acknowledged that there is currently no cure for the disease.
The announcement brings to a close a remarkable run at WABC, where Ritter became one of the most familiar faces in New York television news.
Ritter joined the station in 1998 before taking over the 11 p.m. newscast the following year. In 2001, he added the station’s flagship 6 p.m. broadcast, a role he continued to hold for more than two decades.
A New Focus After Leaving Daily Anchoring
Although Ritter is leaving the anchor desk, he made clear that he is not retiring from journalism.
Instead, he plans to remain at WABC in a reporting role focused on Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions. During his farewell remarks, he said he wants to examine how these illnesses affect patients and families, as well as the financial challenges associated with treatment and long-term care.
Ritter also said he intends to continue mentoring younger journalists in the newsroom.
The veteran anchor explained that family has become an even greater priority following his diagnosis. He noted that he became a grandfather last year through his oldest daughter and is expecting a second grandchild later this year through his son.
“Spending more time with my family has now become even more important, because my life has taken a turn,” Ritter told viewers.
The diagnosis is especially personal for Ritter, who revealed that his father died with Alzheimer’s in 1998.
Tributes From Colleagues and Station Leadership
During his final broadcast, Ritter reflected on the many professional relationships that shaped his career.
He highlighted his decades-long partnership with producer Zahir Sachedina and recognized several longtime colleagues, including co-anchor Liz Cho, meteorologist Lee Goldberg, sports anchor Ryan Field, and anchor Sade Baderinwa.
Ritter also thanked WABC leadership for their support throughout the difficult period following his diagnosis.
In a statement released after the broadcast, WABC General Manager Marilu Galvez praised Ritter’s decades of service to viewers and emphasized that he would continue to play an important role at the station.
Galvez said Ritter would remain part of the ABC7 family, continuing to report on Alzheimer’s-related issues while helping viewers better understand the disease and available resources.
As he signed off from the anchor desk for the final time, Ritter left viewers with a message centered on health, peace, and caring for one another.
“I am going to so miss reporting the news to you,” he said. “With the truth, and with facts, no matter where they fall. It has been my honor to do that.”
