Bill Ritter, the long-running anchor of WABC-TV’s “Eyewitness News,” announced Friday that he has early-stage Alzheimer’s and said tonight’s broadcast will be his last as the show’s daily anchor—while he plans to stay with the program in a new role focused on
When Bill Ritter walked through Friday’s broadcast of “Eyewitness News,” he did it with a message that landed like a changing headline: he is stepping down after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
“After a series of tests, my doctors have told me I have Alzheimer’s,” Ritter told viewers during the broadcast. “It’s ‘early stage’ Alzheimer’s, and they say the treatments I’m getting are keeping it at bay. For now.” Then he spoke the part viewers couldn’t ignore—because it was both hopeful and final at the same time. “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.”.
Ritter has been a fixture at WABC-TV since 1998. He stepped into the anchor role at 11 p.m. for “Eyewitness News” in October 1999, succeeding Bill Beutel. In February 2001, he also added the 6 p.m. newscast to his lineup, and he handled the 5 p.m. hour for several years during his tenure.
Before WABC-TV, Ritter built his career in print journalism, working for the Los Angeles Times. He also appeared on several California and ABC Network news programs.
Even as he leaves the anchor desk, Ritter made it clear he isn’t walking away from “Eyewitness News” entirely. He said he will remain with the program. but in a different capacity—covering “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.”.
The decision reshapes more than a schedule. Ritter’s diagnosis turns an everyday broadcast routine into something heavier: a reminder that treatments can slow what a cure still hasn’t stopped. In the same breath that he described “early stage” Alzheimer’s and doctors trying to keep it at bay. he also set a deadline—tonight’s newscast—as the most cautious kind of goodbye.
WABC-TV General Manager Marilu Galvez responded with praise for Ritter’s decades of work. In a statement. she said. “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.”.
Galvez added that even as Ritter steps away from daily anchoring, he will remain part of the station’s team. “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.”.
Ritter’s full statement was shared in a video embedded with Friday’s report.
Bill Ritter WABC Eyewitness News ABC7 Alzheimer’s diagnosis early-stage Alzheimer’s Marilu Galvez New York news anchor
Oh man that’s heartbreaking.
I saw the headline and thought he got fired or something. Early stage Alzheimer’s is terrifying though, like how is that “keeping it at bay” if there’s no cure? Either way prayers for him and his family.
Wait so is he actually leaving the station like permanently or just moving timeslots? Also “price of treatment” part… is this gonna turn into one of those commercials where they blame Medicare or whatever? Idk I’m just sad, I watched him forever.
This is gonna sound bad but I always thought that kind of stuff is inevitable in long TV careers, like stress and no sleep. They say treatments keep it at bay but “no guarantee” so basically it’s a countdown. Makes me worry now because my aunt keeps forgetting stuff and she watches that show too. Hope they find a cure fast but also I feel like they’ll milk the story and do a bunch of segments about it.