Beloved WABC Anchor Bill Ritter Steps Away from Anchoring Due to Alzheimer's Diagnosis Longtime Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter announced on Friday that he is stepping away from anchoring after being diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s. Ritter, who has anchored the 6 p.m. newscast at WABC-TV since 2001, revealed during Friday’s broadcast that it would be his final appearance as an anchor. He shared his diagnosis during the segment, stating, “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 will be the last newscast I anchor.” Ritter joined WABC-TV in 1998 after a career in print journalism, including stints at the Los Angeles Times, and local television in California. He began anchoring the 11 p.m. Eyewitness News broadcast in October 1999, succeeding Bill Beutel, and added the 6 p.m. newscast in February 2001. He also anchored the 5 p.m. news for several years. Despite his diagnosis, Ritter emphasized his commitment to staying involved with the station, stating he will transition to a new role focused on covering the “rising tide of Alzheimer’s and other similar diseases.” His new work will explore how the disease affects patients and their families, the financial burden of treatment, and potential solutions for systemic change. Marilu Galvez, general manager of WABC-TV, praised Ritter’s decades of service, calling him “a defining presence at ABC7” who “has done so with exceptional insight, integrity, and, most of all—heart.#alzheimer_s #bill_ritter #wabc_tv #marilu_galvez #zahir_sachedina
