Veteran television journalist Bill Ritter has announced he is stepping down from his longtime anchor position at WABC-TV in New York City after being diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. The 76-year-old news anchor made the emotional revelation during his final Friday evening broadcast of Eyewitness News, bringing to a close more than two decades at the station’s anchor desk.

During the broadcast, Ritter told viewers that a series of medical tests had confirmed the diagnosis. “After a series of tests, my doctors have told me I have Alzheimer’s,” he stated on air. “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.”

The announcement marks a bittersweet end to Ritter’s distinguished career in broadcast journalism. He has anchored WABC-TV’s flagship 6 p.m. newscast since 2001, becoming a familiar and trusted presence in homes across the New York City metropolitan area. His departure underscores the personal toll that Alzheimer’s disease continues to take on families across the nation, regardless of professional status or public profile.

Ritter’s connection to the disease runs deeper than his recent diagnosis. During his announcement, he revealed that his own father succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease in 1998 after battling the illness for several years. That personal experience with the devastating progression of the disease likely informed his decision to speak publicly about his own condition and continue advocating for awareness in his new role.

The veteran anchor’s journalism career spans several decades and includes an impressive range of experience across multiple platforms. He joined WABC-TV in 1998 after working at the Los Angeles Times and various local television stations in California. He also held positions with ABC News before landing at the New York station. Ritter began anchoring the station’s 11 p.m. Eyewitness News broadcast in 1999 and was promoted to the prestigious 6 p.m. time slot in 2001. For several years, he also anchored the station’s 5 p.m. broadcast, cementing his status as one of New York’s most recognizable news personalities.

While Ritter is leaving daily anchoring duties, he will not be disappearing from the airwaves entirely. According to ABC7, he will remain with the station in a newly created role that focuses on reporting about Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological conditions. His work will examine the impact these diseases have on patients and their families, drawing from his personal experience to bring insight and empathy to coverage of these critical health issues.

WABC-TV General Manager Marilu Galvez praised Ritter’s contributions to the station and the community in a statement released following the announcement. “For decades, Bill Ritter has covered and led New Yorkers through the stories that matter most,” Galvez said. “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 emphasized that Ritter would continue to be an important part of the station’s mission. “While he is stepping away from daily anchoring, he will continue to be an integral part of our ABC7 family, including sharing personal updates and providing resources to help others impacted by Alzheimer’s better understand the disease and the resources available to them,” she added. “Bill is strong, brilliant, and resourceful, and we look forward to his continued reporting on Eyewitness News.”

Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of Americans and their families. The progressive neurological disorder gradually destroys memory and cognitive function, eventually impairing the ability to carry out simple daily tasks. Currently, there is no cure for the disease, though treatments can temporarily slow the worsening of symptoms and improve quality of life for patients in the early stages.

Ritter’s public disclosure of his diagnosis adds his voice to a growing number of public figures who have chosen to speak openly about their battles with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. By sharing his story and transitioning into a reporting role focused on the disease, he is helping to raise awareness and reduce the stigma often associated with cognitive decline while providing valuable resources to others facing similar challenges.