Longtime New York City television news anchor Bill Ritter has announced his sudden retirement after revealing he has early signs of Alzheimer's disease. Ritter, 76, has anchored the main evening news on ABC's WABC since 2001, becoming a familiar face to millions of New Yorkers.
Announcement on Air
On Friday night, Ritter disclosed his diagnosis and said he was stepping down. “I am going to so miss reporting the news to all of you, with the truth and with facts, no matter where they fall,” he said. “It has been my honor to do just that. But for now, I wish you health and peace and let’s take care of each other.” He added, “They say the treatments I’m getting are keeping it at bay, at least for now. But there is no guarantee, because there’s no cure yet for Alzheimer’s.”
Continued Advocacy
Ritter, who lost his father to the same disease, will continue to report on Alzheimer's. “This station wants to dig deeper into the rising tide of Alzheimer’s, and other similar diseases – including how it’s affecting patients and their families, how the price of treatment and the price of caring for patients is simply unaffordable, and how this country might begin to change that,” he said.
Career Highlights
Ritter joined WABC in 1998. His previous career included stints at the Los Angeles Times and local television in California. He began anchoring the 11pm newscast on ABC in 1999 and the 6pm newscast in 2001. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disorder affecting memory, thinking, and language skills. Nearly 7 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.
