Bill Ritter Leaves WABC Anchor Desk at 76 After Early Alzheimer's Diagnosis
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 13
Bill Ritter Leaves WABC Anchor Desk at 76 After Early Alzheimer's Diagnosis
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 13
Summary
Friday's 6 p.m. broadcast was Bill Ritter's last at the WABC anchor desk, ending a run that included anchoring the station's flagship evening newscast since 2001.
Ritter, 76, said doctors diagnosed him with early-stage Alzheimer's after a series of tests and that current treatment is keeping the disease at bay for now, though there is no cure.
He said he plans to keep reporting as often as he can and to help spotlight Alzheimer's, including the strain on patients, families and the cost of care.
Ritter joined WABC in 1998, added the 11 p.m. newscast in 1999 and the 6 p.m. broadcast in 2001; he said his commitment to the issue is personal after his father died of Alzheimer's in 1998.