Veteran Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter is stepping down from his role after revealing he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
Ritter, 76, announced during the Friday, June 12, broadcast of Eyewitness News at 6 that it would be his final day as a news anchor.
“After a series of tests, my doctors have told me I have Alzheimer’s,” Ritter told viewers. “It’s ‘early stage’ Alzheimer’s, and they say the treatments I’m getting are keeping it at bay. For now.”
The longtime journalist explained that while his condition is currently being managed, he acknowledged the disease is progressive and his future is uncertain.
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“But there is no guarantee, because there’s no cure yet for Alzheimer’s,” Ritter continued. “So, unless someone finds an amazing cure, and soon, tonight will be the last newscast I anchor.”
Ritter also vowed to continue the fight against Alzheimer’s, noting that his own father died with the disease in June 1998.
“I am going to so miss reporting the news to you. With the truth, and with facts, no matter where they fall. It has been my honor to do that,” Ritter said as he signed off for the final time as anchor. “For now, I wish you health and peace, and let’s take care of each other.”
Following the announcement, WABC-TV General Manager Marilu Galvez praised Ritter’s decades of service to viewers.
“For decades, Bill Ritter has covered and led New Yorkers through the stories that matter most,” Galvez said in a statement. “A defining presence at ABC7, he has done so with exceptional insight, integrity, and, most of all, heart, earning the love and respect of viewers and colleagues alike.”
Galvez added that Ritter will continue to play an important role at the station by sharing updates on his journey and helping raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and available resources for those affected by the disease.
Ritter has anchored WABC-TV’s 6 p.m. newscast since 2001. He joined WABC-TV in 1998 following a journalism career that included work in print and television. Before arriving at the New York station, he worked for the Los Angeles Times, local television stations in California and ABC News network programs.
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He became anchor of the station’s 11 p.m. Eyewitness News broadcast in 1999, succeeding longtime anchor Bill Beutel, before taking over the 6 p.m. newscast in 2001. He also spent several years anchoring the station’s 5 p.m. broadcast.
Although Ritter is stepping away from daily anchoring duties, he was adamant that viewers have not seen the last of him.
The journalist also announced that he will remain part of the Eyewitness News team in a new reporting role focused on Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions.
Ritter said he plans to cover the growing impact of the disease on patients and families, as well as the financial challenges associated with treatment and long-term care, which he described as “simply unaffordable” in many cases.
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