Bill Ritter ended his long run behind WABC's anchor desk on Friday, effective immediately, by revealing why he's stepping away: an early-stage Alzheimer's diagnosis. The 76-year-old, who has helmed the New York station's 6pm newscast since 2001, told viewers that a series of tests confirmed the disease, adding that current treatment is "keeping it at bay, at least for now," but that there's still no cure, per ABC News. Ritter stressed he isn't retiring from journalism entirely He said he plans to keep reporting as often as possible and use his platform to focus on Alzheimer's and related conditions, including the strain on families and the rising cost of care.
The issue is personal: Ritter's father died of Alzheimer's in 1998. WABC's general manager, Marilu Galvez, called him a defining figure at the station, where he's worked since 1998 after earlier stints in print and broadcast, including at the Los Angeles Times and ABC News. Signing off, Ritter told viewers he'd miss bringing them the news "with the truth and with facts, no matter where they fall," urging them, "Let's take care of each other." The Independent reports that viewers responded with compassion to Ritter's final broadcast. "Heartwarming, tearful and I appreciate his straight-forwardness in his tactic to dealing with life head on with grace, integrity, and courage," one commenter noted on Instagram. Watch his final sign-off in full here.
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