Veteran New York broadcaster Bill Ritter announced during WABC-TV’s June 12 newscast that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease and will step away from regular anchoring duties. The 76-year-old said medical tests prompted the decision and that he plans to remain involved with the station in a different capacity.
Ritter, a fixture at the station since 1998, told viewers that doctors have prescribed treatments that appear to slow his symptoms for now but emphasized there is no cure. He said he will end his nightly anchor role while continuing to work at WABC in ways that fit his health and priorities.
From anchor desk to mentorship and reporting
While Ritter will no longer lead the evening newscast, he will stay on the Eyewitness News team as a reporter and mentor to younger journalists. The station has said it will expand coverage of dementia and related conditions, and Ritter plans to contribute to that reporting both on air and online.
He expressed gratitude to colleagues and viewers for their support during the transition and described the move as a way to continue his journalism without the daily demands of anchoring.
A personal connection to the disease
Ritter framed his announcement in personal terms. He recounted his father’s death from the same illness in 1998 and noted that advocacy and reporting on dementia have been part of his life well before his own diagnosis.
He also said the shift in his professional life makes spending time with family a greater priority. Ritter is married to Kathleen and has three children, and he praised his family for their support as they navigate the diagnosis together.
- Who: Bill Ritter, 76, longtime WABC-TV journalist
- What: Diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s; stepping down from regular anchor duties
- When: Announcement made on the June 12 newscast
- Next steps: Remaining with WABC as a reporter and mentor; increased station coverage of dementia
Ritter’s decision underscores a broader public-health concern: as more people live into older ages, dementia-related conditions are becoming a more frequent subject in local newsrooms and community conversations. For viewers, the change signals both the human side of journalism and a renewed newsroom focus on medical, caregiving and policy issues tied to cognitive decline.
On air, he thanked audiences for allowing him to report the news and for the compassion shown to him and his family. He closed by urging people to care for one another and to pay attention to the growing need for research and support services for those affected by dementia.
