SouthernWorldwide.com – Veteran New York news anchor Bill Ritter announced on Friday that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, marking the end of his extensive career spanning over two decades at the WABC-TV anchor desk.
Ritter, aged 76, who has been the lead anchor for the station’s 6 p.m. newscast in New York City since 2001, shared the news during Friday’s Eyewitness News broadcast, revealing it would be his final night in that role.
“After a series of tests, my doctors have informed me that I have Alzheimer’s,” Ritter stated during the broadcast.
“It is early-stage Alzheimer’s, and they are saying the treatments I am receiving are keeping it at bay, for now,” he elaborated. “However, there is no guarantee, as there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s.”
“So, unless a remarkable cure is discovered soon, tonight will be the last newscast I anchor,” he added.
According to ABC7, Ritter joined WABC-TV in 1998, following a distinguished journalism career that included work with the Los Angeles Times, local television stations in California, and various positions with ABC News.
He began anchoring the station’s 11 p.m. Eyewitness News broadcast in 1999 and was subsequently added to the flagship 6 p.m. newscast in 2001. He also served as the anchor for the station’s 5 p.m. broadcast for several years.
ABC7 reported that Ritter will continue his association with the station in a new capacity, focusing partly on reporting about Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological conditions, as well as their impact on patients and their families.
“For decades, Bill Ritter has covered and guided New Yorkers through the most significant stories,” stated Marilu Galvez, General Manager of WABC-TV, in a released statement.
“As a defining presence at ABC7, he has approached his work with exceptional insight, integrity, and, most importantly, heart, earning the deep affection and respect of viewers and colleagues alike,” she continued.
“While he is stepping down from daily anchoring duties, he will remain a vital member of our ABC7 family, sharing personal updates and providing resources to help those affected by Alzheimer’s better understand the disease and the support systems available to them.”
“Bill is a strong, brilliant, and resourceful individual, and we eagerly anticipate his continued contributions to Eyewitness News,” Galvez concluded.
Ritter also mentioned during the broadcast that his father passed away from Alzheimer’s disease in 1998, after a prolonged battle with the illness.
