WABC Anchor Bill Ritter steps away from the anchor desk; reveals Alzheimer's diagnosis
ABC7 Eyewitness News • • nation
Key Points:
- Bill Ritter, a longtime WABC-TV Eyewitness News anchor since 2001, announced he is stepping down from anchoring after being diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
- Ritter revealed his diagnosis during his final 6 p.m. newscast on Friday, explaining that while treatments are helping, there is no cure yet, and this broadcast would be his last as an anchor.
- He plans to remain with WABC-TV in a new role focusing on coverage of Alzheimer's and related diseases, highlighting patient and family impacts, treatment costs, and potential policy changes.
- Ritter has a personal connection to the disease, having lost his father to Alzheimer's in 1998, and has been active in advocacy and awareness efforts for many years.
- WABC-TV praised Ritter's decades of service and commitment, emphasizing his continued involvement in reporting and mentoring younger journalists despite stepping away from daily anchoring.