WABC Anchor Bill Ritter Steps Away from News Desk Following Alzheimer's Diagnosis

Longtime WABC/Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter announced that he is stepping away from the anchor desk after being diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. 

What's Happening:

• Ritter revealed that treatments are currently helping keep the disease at bay, but noted there is no cure for Alzheimer's, leading him to make the difficult decision to end his tenure as a daily news anchor. 
• A fixture at WABC since 1998, Ritter anchored the station's 11 p.m. newscast beginning in 1999 and the 6 p.m. newscast since 2001, becoming one of New York's most recognizable television journalists. 
• Although he is leaving the anchor desk, Ritter will remain with ABC7 in a new role, mentoring younger journalists and reporting on Alzheimer's disease, including its impact on patients, families, and the cost of care. 
• Ritter shared that the diagnosis is deeply personal, as his father died from Alzheimer's in 1998. He has long been involved in Alzheimer's awareness efforts and plans to continue that advocacy. 
• WABC General Manager Marilu Galvez praised Ritter's decades of service, calling him a defining presence at ABC7 and confirming he will continue to be an important part of the station's coverage and community outreach. 

What They're Saying:

• Bill Ritter: "After a series of tests, my doctors have told me I have Alzheimer's. 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. So, unless someone finds an amazing cure, and soon, tonight (Friday) will be the last newscast I anchor."
• Marilu Galvez, WABC-TV general manager: "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. 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. Bill is strong, brilliant, and resourceful, and we look forward to his continued reporting on Eyewitness News."