Veteran New York journalist Bill Ritter revealed on Friday that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, marking the end of more than twenty years as lead anchor at WABC-TV.

The 76-year-old broadcaster shared the emotional announcement at the close of his final Eyewitness News broadcast, telling viewers that medical tests confirmed his diagnosis.

“After a series of tests, my doctors have told me I have Alzheimer's,” Ritter said during the broadcast.

He explained that his treatments were helping to slow the disease’s progression but that the condition remains incurable.

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“It’s early-stage Alzheimer’s, and they say the treatments I’m getting are keeping it at bay, for now,” he explained. “But there is no guarantee, because there’s no cure yet for Alzheimer’s.”

Then, in a moment that stunned longtime viewers, he added, “So, unless someone finds an amazing cure, and soon, tonight will be the last newscast I anchor.”

Ritter’s career with WABC-TV began in 1998 after distinguished stints at the Los Angeles Times, local California stations, and ABC News. He became anchor of the station’s 11 p.m. Eyewitness News program in 1999 and took over the 6 p.m. edition in 2001, positions he held for decades.

According to ABC7, Ritter will remain with the station in a different capacity focusing on reporting stories about Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological conditions, highlighting their effects on patients and families.

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WABC-TV General Manager Marilu Galvez praised Ritter’s legacy in a statement, calling him “a defining presence at ABC7” who led coverage “with exceptional insight, integrity and, most of all, heart.”

She said the veteran anchor will remain an “integral part” of the ABC7 family as he shares his own experience and provides resources for others affected by Alzheimer’s.

“Bill is strong, brilliant, and resourceful, and we look forward to his continued reporting on Eyewitness News,” Galvez said.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also responded, calling Ritter “a trusted presence in New Yorkers’ homes” and commending his openness about his diagnosis. Mamdani wrote that Ritter’s transparency would help “countless families facing the same challenge feel less alone.”

Messages of support streamed in from colleagues across the newsroom. Reporter Lucy Yang expressed admiration on social media, noting his unwavering dedication and professionalism.

“For decades, I’ve reported for his show and even filled in, anchored w him,” Yang wrote. “He never gave less than 110% I salute you. I thank you. And I will pray for you.”

Chief meteorologist Lee Goldberg called Ritter “a saint” and “my hero,” adding that his ethos of kindness and collaboration would inspire others long after he leaves the anchor desk.

Ritter also shared that his father had Alzheimer’s disease and passed away in 1998 after a long battle with the illness, a family history that gives his own disclosure even deeper resonance.

As colleagues and viewers reflected on his career, Ritter’s farewell served as both a painful and hopeful turning point—an accomplished journalist choosing to face a devastating diagnosis in public, determined to keep telling stories that matter.

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