Longtime NYC TV Anchor Bill Ritter Announces Retirement After Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
Bill Ritter, a veteran anchor at ABC's WABC in New York, has announced his sudden retirement after revealing he has early signs of Alzheimer's disease. The 76-year-old has been a familiar face on evening newscasts since 2001.
Bill Ritter, a longtime New York City television news anchor, announced his sudden retirement on Friday night after disclosing that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. Ritter, who has presented the main evening news on ABC station WABC since 2001, has become a familiar figure to millions of New Yorkers.
In his announcement, Ritter expressed that he will miss reporting the news to viewers and emphasized the honor it has been. He added that the treatments he is receiving are keeping the disease at bay for now, but there is no guarantee as there is no cure for Alzheimer's. Ritter, who lost his father to the same disease, said he will continue to report on the issue.
WABC plans to investigate the rising impact of Alzheimer's and similar diseases, including effects on patients and families, the unaffordability of treatment and care, and how the country might address the challenge. Ritter joined WABC in 1998, previously working at the Los Angeles Times and local television in California. He started anchoring the 11pm newscast in 1999 and the 6pm newscast in 2001.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder affecting memory, thinking, and language. Nearly 7 million Americans currently live with the disease, according to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.
