Bill Ritter, the face of New York City evening news for more than two decades, announced his retirement from WABC on Friday after disclosing an early-stage Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. The 76-year-old anchor, who has anchored the station's flagship newscasts since 2001, said he would leave his on-air role but remain involved in reporting on the disease itself.
"I am going to so miss reporting the news to all of you, with the truth and with facts, no matter where they fall," Ritter said in his announcement. "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."
Ritter noted that treatments are currently slowing the disease's progression, though he acknowledged the sobering reality facing patients. "They say the treatments I'm getting are keeping it at bay, at least for now," he said. "But there is no guarantee, because there's no cure yet for Alzheimer's."
The decision carries personal weight for Ritter, who lost his father to Alzheimer's. Rather than disappearing from the newsroom entirely, he plans to dedicate himself to deeper reporting on the condition and its wider impact.
WABC intends to investigate what Ritter described as the "rising tide of Alzheimer's" and similar diseases, with focus on how the conditions affect patients and families, the mounting costs of treatment and care, and potential policy solutions. Ritter will lead that coverage as part of his continued role at the station.
Ritter joined WABC in 1998 after a career that included work at the Los Angeles Times and California television stations. He began anchoring the 11pm newscast in 1999 before moving to the 6pm slot two years later, where he remained until this week.
According to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, nearly 7 million Americans currently live with the disease, a progressive disorder that affects memory, thinking, and language skills.
Author James Rodriguez: "Ritter's decision to keep reporting on Alzheimer's rather than fade away entirely shows real character, and the network's commitment to investigating the disease's grip on families and the healthcare system fills an important gap."
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