'There’s No Cure': Famed NYC TV Anchor Reveals Diagnosis Live On-Air, And It’s Powerful
Bill Ritter, a longtime anchor for WABC-TV (ABC7 Eyewitness News), announced his retirement live on-air due to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. He confirmed no cure exists and his final broadcast will mark the end of his 25-year tenure. Symptoms began appearing years before diagnosis, including memory lapses. The news has drawn widespread attention to early signs of the disease.
What changed
Ritter’s live on-air retirement announcement, including his direct statement about the lack of a cure, is now confirmed across multiple sources.
Live updates
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Bill Ritter Steps Down as WABC-TV Anchor After Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
confidence 98%Bill Ritter, a longtime anchor for WABC-TV (ABC7 Eyewitness News), announced his retirement live on-air due to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. He confirmed no cure exists and his final broadcast will mark the end of his 25-year tenure. Symptoms began appearing years before diagnosis, including memory lapses. The news has drawn widespread attention to early signs of the disease.
What's confirmed:
- Bill Ritter, anchor of WABC-TV’s 6 p.m. newscast since 2001, announced his retirement live on-air due to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
- He stated there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s and his final broadcast will be his last as anchor.
- Ritter revealed he began noticing symptoms two years before diagnosis, including forgetting names and places.
- He described feeling scared after receiving the diagnosis and has shared details of his early struggles with the disease.
- Ritter has anchored WABC-TV’s newscasts since 1999, making his retirement a significant moment for the station.
Still unconfirmed:
- Ritter’s exact age at diagnosis is reported as 76, though no primary source confirms this specific number.