WABC Anchor Bill Ritter Steps Down After Early-Stage Alzheimer's Diagnosis
Veteran ABC7 Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter, 76, announced on Friday's 6 p.m. broadcast that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease and is stepping down from the anchor desk. Ritter has been with WABC-TV since 1998 and anchored the station's 6 p.m. newscast since 2001, making him one of New York's longest-serving local news anchors. He will remain with the station in a new role focused on reporting about Alzheimer's disease, its impact on patients and families, and the affordability of care.
Bill Ritter, 76, announced during Friday's 6 p.m. Eyewitness News broadcast on WABC-TV that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease, making it his final night as an anchor. Ritter, who joined WABC in 1998 and began anchoring the 11 p.m. newscast in 1999 before adding the 6 p.m. slot in 2001, said his doctors told him treatments are currently keeping the disease at bay but that there is no cure. He noted a personal connection to the illness, as his father died from Alzheimer's in June 1998. Ritter had already begun scaling back his duties after turning 75, stepping away from the 11 p.m. and 5 p.m. broadcasts before Friday's announcement. He will continue working at ABC7 in a reporting capacity, covering Alzheimer's and related diseases, including the financial burden on patients and families. WABC-TV General Manager Marilu Galvez praised Ritter's decades of service and confirmed he would remain an integral part of the station's team. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and several of Ritter's colleagues publicly expressed support, with meteorologist Lee Goldberg calling him 'a saint and my hero.'
What's missing
No source specifies which Alzheimer's treatments Ritter is currently receiving or the clinical details of his diagnosis timeline.
How coverage differed
The New York Post framed the story with a more emotional, tribute-heavy tone and emphasized colleague praise, while Variety and Deadline provided more straightforward career-timeline context. Fox News included additional links to Alzheimer's-related health stories and highlighted the NYC mayor's reaction, which other outlets did not prominently feature.
What different sources said
- ABC7 Eyewitness NewsCenter
WABC Anchor Bill Ritter steps away from the anchor desk; reveals Alzheimer's diagnosis
- Fox NewsRight
New York anchor Bill Ritter announces Alzheimer's diagnosis during his final Eyewitness News broadcast
- DeadlineCenter
Longtime ABC7 New York Anchor Bill Ritter Steps Down, Reveals Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
- NJ.comCenter
Beloved ABC News New York anchor steps down, reveals he has Alzheimer’s
- VarietyCenter
WABC-TV’s Bill Ritter Departs ‘Eyewitness News’ Anchor Job After Being Diagnosed With Early Stage Alzheimer’s
- New York PostRight
Beloved ABC New York anchor Bill Ritter set to announce retirement due to health issue: sources
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