Veteran Anchor Bill Ritter Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease

Bill Ritter, a long-time anchor at WABC-TV, has shared his diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. This announcement marks the end of his over two-decade tenure at the anchor desk in New York.

Ritter, 76, has been the face of the station’s 6 p.m. newscast since 2001. During a recent broadcast of Eyewitness News, he informed viewers that the segment would be his last.

“After a series of tests, my doctors have told me I have Alzheimer’s,” Ritter stated. “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.”

He suggested the possibility of his last broadcast, unless new treatments are discovered quickly. Ritter’s broadcasting career at WABC-TV began in 1998 after years working with the Los Angeles Times, local California stations, and ABC News.

Throughout his career, he anchored multiple time slots, including the 11 p.m. Eyewitness News in 1999 and the 5 p.m. broadcast for several years.

New Role Focused on Alzheimer’s Awareness

Although stepping down from the anchor role, Ritter will remain at WABC-TV. His new position will emphasize reporting on Alzheimer’s and neurological conditions, examining their effects on patients and families.

Marilu Galvez, WABC-TV General Manager, praised Ritter’s career:

“For decades, Bill Ritter has covered and led New Yorkers through the stories that matter most. 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.”

Ritter will remain part of the ABC7 family, offering resources and personal updates to aid those impacted by Alzheimer’s. He mentioned that his father also battled Alzheimer’s before passing away in 1998.