A longtime New York City television news anchor has announced his sudden retirement from the airwaves after revealing that he has the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
Bill Ritter, a veteran of ABC New York station WABC, has presented the main evening news in New York since 2001 and become a familiar face to millions of its residents.
But on Friday night the 76-year-old revealed the diagnosis and said he was stepping down from his role.
“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. “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 added: “They say the treatments I’m getting are keeping it at bay, at least for now. But there is no guarantee, because there’s no cure yet for Alzheimer’s.”
Ritter, who lost his father to the same disease, said he would, however, continue to report on the issue.
“This station wants to dig deeper into the rising tide of Alzheimer’s, and other similar diseases – including how it’s affecting patients and their families, how the price of treatment and the price of caring for patients is simply unaffordable, and how this country might begin to change that,” he said.
Ritter joined WABC in 1998. His previous career has involved stints at the Los Angeles Times and local television in California. He began anchoring the 11pm newscast on ABC in 1999, and then the 6pm newscast in 2001.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects the brain and hits memory, thinking and language skills. Nearly 7 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.
