TV news anchorman reveals he has Alzheimer's during final night helming broadcast

Veteran New York quality anchor Bill Ritter revealed Friday that helium has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease, bringing an extremity to his much than two-decade tally down the WABC-TV anchor desk.

Ritter, 76, who has anchored the station's 6 p.m. newscast successful New York City since 2001, revealed during Friday's Eyewitness News broadcast that it would beryllium his last nighttime anchoring the program.

"After a bid of tests, my doctors person told maine I person Alzheimer's," Ritter said during the broadcast.

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"It's early-stage Alzheimer's, and they accidental the treatments I'm getting are keeping it astatine bay, for now," helium continued. "But determination is nary guarantee, due to the fact that there's nary cure yet for Alzheimer's."

Veteran New York quality anchor Bill Ritter announced that helium has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's illness and is stepping distant from the WABC-TV anchor desk. (Linda Rosier/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

"So, unless idiosyncratic finds an astonishing cure, and soon, contiguous volition beryllium the past newscast I anchor," helium added.

According to ABC7, Ritter joined WABC-TV successful 1998 aft an extended journalism vocation that included enactment astatine the Los Angeles Times, section tv stations successful California and positions with ABC News.

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He began anchoring the station's 11 p.m. Eyewitness News broadcast successful 1999 and was added to the flagship 6 p.m. newscast successful 2001. He besides anchored the station's 5 p.m. broadcast for respective years.

Bill Ritter has anchored WABC-TV's 6 p.m. newscast successful New York City since 2001. (Heidi Gutman/Disney via Getty Images)

ABC7 reported that Ritter volition stay with the presumption successful a caller relation focused successful portion connected reporting astir Alzheimer's illness and different neurological conditions, arsenic good arsenic their interaction connected patients and families.

"For decades, Bill Ritter has covered and led New Yorkers done the stories that substance most," WABC-TV General Manager Marilu Galvez said successful a statement.

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"A defining beingness astatine ABC7, helium has done truthful with exceptional insight, integrity and, astir of all, heart, earning the emotion and respect of viewers and colleagues alike," she continued.

"While helium is stepping distant from regular anchoring, helium volition proceed to beryllium an integral portion of our ABC7 family, including sharing idiosyncratic updates and providing resources to assistance others impacted by Alzheimer's amended recognize the illness and the resources disposable to them."

Bill Ritter, Eyewitness News Anchor, WABC-TV, speaks onstage astatine the ROAR Forward Summit astatine Hearst Tower connected November 19, 2024 successful New York City. (Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Hearst)

"Bill is strong, brilliant, and resourceful, and we look guardant to his continued reporting connected Eyewitness News," Galvez added.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani responded to Ritter's announcement by wishing the seasoned broadcaster and his household "strength successful the days ahead."

"For decades, Bill Ritter has been a trusted beingness successful New Yorkers' homes, helping america marque consciousness of the quality that signifier our city," Mamdani wrote connected X. "

"His courageousness successful sharing his Alzheimer’s diagnosis volition assistance countless families facing the aforesaid situation consciousness little alone," helium continued. "Wishing Bill, his loved ones, and everyone affected by Alzheimer's spot successful the days ahead."

Ritter's colleagues besides reacted to his announcement.

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WABC-TV newsman Lucy Yang paid tribute to Ritter's professionalism and dedication during his decades-long vocation astatine the station.

"For decades, I’ve reported for his amusement and adjacent filled in, anchored w him," she posted connected X. "He ne'er gave little than 110% I salute you. I convey you. And I volition commune for you."

Lee Goldberg, the station's main meteorologist, said Ritter's power would proceed agelong aft helium stepped distant from the anchor desk.

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"He preaches beryllium kind, instrumentality attraction of each other, & we're each successful this together," Goldberg said connected X. "Now, successful summation to doing these things for himself & his loving family, he'll physique connected his legendary bequest by helping millions who stock his battle." 

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"You're a saint, and my leader @billritter7," helium added. "Love you."

Ritter besides noted during the broadcast that his begetter died of Alzheimer's illness successful 1998 aft battling the unwellness for years.