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Longtime WABC-TV/ABC7 news anchor Bill Ritter is stepping down from the “Eyewitness News” chair after being diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s. Ritter announced on Friday’s 6 p.m. newscast that it would be his last.
Ritter has anchored the station’s 6 p.m. “Eyewitness News” broadcast since 2001.
“After a series of tests, my doctors have told me I have Alzheimer’s,” Ritter said during Friday’s newscast, according to WABC. “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 will continue to work at WABC/Eyewitness News, but focus on health issues, including “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.
The anchor has been with WABC since 1998; before that he was at the Los Angeles Times, as well as L.A. stations KTTV and KCAL, and San Diego’s KNSD. He then moved on to national, anchoring “Good Morning America Sunday” and working on “20/20.”
At WABC, Ritter was named “Eyewitness News” 11 p.m. co-anchor in 1999, and added 6 p.m. in 2001. (He also anchored 5 p.m. for a period of time.) He departed the 11 p.m. slot last year.
In announcing his diagnosis, Ritter noted that he has been active in the fight against the disease, having lost his father to Alzheimer’s in 1998.
“For decades, Bill Ritter has covered and led New Yorkers through the stories that matter most,” said WABC-TV general manager Marilu Galvez. “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. 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.”
Here is Ritter’s full farewell statement, via WABC:
Last year I turned 75 years old, and I thought it was time to cut back a bit. After so many years, I stopped anchoring the 11 o’clock news, and then later, the 5 o’clock news. My goal was to spend more time with my family. A year ago, I became a grandfather thanks to my oldest daughter, and later this summer, I’ll have a second grandchild thanks to my son. In a year, my youngest daughter will graduate high school, but spending more time with my family has now become even more important, because my life has taken a turn.
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 (Friday) will be the last newscast I anchor.
It is not easy to say that, to all of you, our viewers, and to the people I work with, like the man I’ve worked with for 25 and a half years, our producer, and my friend, Zahir Sachedina. I believe we are the longest-running, behind-the-scenes newscast team ever, here, and maybe anywhere — a Muslim producer, and a Jewish anchor – for 25 and a half years. It’s what the melting pot of New York and the Tri-State – and I would hope the country – is all about.
For 23 of these years, I anchored next to my remarkable partner and friend Liz Cho. We are the longest-running, on-air team in the history of Channel 7. And for 20 years, another Eyewitness News record, with Lee Goldberg, the best meteorologist in the country, and who is also my great friend.
And our oh-so-talented, as we’ve seen these past few weeks, sports anchor Ryan Field, who makes me laugh every day, and who also likes to laugh at me just about every day. And sitting with me for 14 years on the 11o’clock news and then later on the 5 o’clock news, I sat next to the amazing Sade Baderinwa. We remain the longest-running 11 o’clock team on Eyewitness News.
I also want to say “thanks” to my bosses at WABC. They have treated me and my family with compassion and humanity, and love.
As for my family, my kids say, “dad – you’re being so brave in all this.” But no – it’s not me, it’s them who are being brave. As is my wife Kathleen.
So, what will I do now? Well, I’m going to continue working. Right here at ABC 7. I will continue helping the younger journalists here at Eyewitness News. Hey, I’m now 76. So, for me, everyone in the newsroom is younger than I am.
I’m also going to remain a journalist here at Eyewitness News, and so, you will still see me on air and online. One reason? Because 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.
I am not a stranger to this disease. My dad died with it in June 1998. I have since been active in the fight to stop Alzheimer’s, and I will continue that, along with my friend Mike Marza, who took my place last year on Eyewitness News at 5 and 11. Mike’s grandfather died from this disease, and we have emceed together many Alzheimer’s awareness events to spread the word.
I am going to so miss reporting the news to you. With the truth, and with facts, no matter where they fall. It has been my honor to do that. For now, I wish you health and peace, and let’s take care of each other.
