For 25 years, Bill Ritter has been a fixture of New York City’s evening news, a steady presence in the living rooms of millions. On Friday night, he delivered the final broadcast of his career as an anchor, not with a standard sign-off, but with a revelation that reframed his departure.

"After a series of tests, my doctors have told me I have Alzheimer’s," Ritter told viewers during the 6 p.m. "Eyewitness News" broadcast. "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."

This is the end of a singular era in local television. Ritter, who joined WABC in 1998 after stints at the Los Angeles Times and various West Coast stations, has anchored the 6 p.m. news since 2001. His departure marks the conclusion of one of the longest-running on-air partnerships in the station's history, alongside co-anchor Liz Cho and meteorologist Lee Goldberg.

A Shift in Focus, Not a Total Exit

While Ritter is vacating the anchor chair, he is not leaving the station entirely. WABC-TV general manager Marilu Galvez confirmed that Ritter will remain part of the "ABC7 family," shifting his professional focus toward reporting on the disease that has now become personal.

Ritter’s reporting will center on the systemic challenges surrounding Alzheimer’s care, specifically the rising costs of treatment and the burden placed on families. It is a cause that hits close to home; Ritter lost his own father to the disease in 1998, the same year he joined the station. By pivoting to this beat, Ritter aims to use his platform to demystify the diagnosis and highlight the lack of affordable resources for patients.

The End of a New York Institution

In his farewell, Ritter took a moment to reflect on the nature of his newsroom. He highlighted his 25-year partnership with producer Zahir Sachedina, describing their collaboration as a testament to the "melting pot" of the Tri-State area.

"A Muslim producer, and a Jewish anchor – for 25 and a half years," Ritter noted. "It’s what the melting pot of New York and the Tri-State – and I would hope the country – is all about."

His tenure at WABC saw him navigate the station through decades of local and national crises, cementing his reputation as a reliable voice in a rapidly changing media landscape. Having already stepped back from the 11 p.m. and 5 p.m. slots last year to spend more time with his family, the 75-year-old anchor had initially planned for a gradual transition. The medical diagnosis accelerated that timeline significantly.

Key Takeaways

  • Bill Ritter is stepping down as the anchor of WABC-TV’s 6 p.m. "Eyewitness News" following an early-stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
  • Ritter will remain with the station to report on Alzheimer’s, focusing on the high cost of care and the lack of accessible resources for families.
  • His departure ends a 25-year run at the station, including a 23-year on-air partnership with co-anchor Liz Cho.

For the viewers who have watched Ritter for a quarter-century, the transition will be jarring. But for Ritter, the move is a calculated decision to prioritize his health and his family while attempting to turn a personal medical challenge into a public service. The station has not yet named a permanent successor for the 6 p.m. slot, but the void left by a veteran of his stature will be difficult to fill.