Bill Ritter, the veteran face of WABC’s Eyewitness News, is expected to tell viewers he is retiring and that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease during an upcoming evening newscast, according to a new report. Ritter, 76, has been a fixture on New York televisions for more than two decades and now co-anchors the 6 p.m. broadcast with Liz Cho. He stepped away from the station’s 11 p.m. desk in 2025 but has continued to host his Sunday public affairs program and appear at charity events.
What the reporting says
According to the New York Post, unnamed sources said Ritter plans to share the news on air and step down from his anchor duties because of the Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Colleagues quoted in the Post called him “a real newsman” who is “well‑respected” and “actively involved in making the newscast better.”
Ritter’s biography on ABC7 notes that he joined Eyewitness News in 1998 and moved into the nightly anchor chair in 1999. He also serves as host of the Sunday public affairs series Up Close, according to the station.
Ritter’s run at Eyewitness News
Ritter has been part of WABC’s lineup since the late 1990s and is widely remembered for his steady delivery and interviewing skills. In 2025 he began cutting back his evening workload, handing the 5 p.m. co-anchor role to Mike Marza after earlier stepping away from the 11 p.m. newscast that same year, according to Adweek.
Even as he trimmed his nightly schedule, Ritter continued to emcee charity events and lead longer Sunday conversations on Up Close, including recent Up Close sit-downs covered by Hoodline.
Colleagues remember him
“He's everything you want in a New York City anchor — he sets a standard for all of us,” one colleague told the New York Post. The Post reported that staffers described Ritter as a newsroom mentor who consistently pushed for stronger journalism and helped shape the station’s editorial tone.
If his on-air statement matches what has been reported, it would mark the close of a decades-long chapter for viewers who have watched Ritter anchor New York’s evening news.
What Alzheimer's means
Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disease that affects memory and thinking. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that about 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with clinical Alzheimer’s dementia in 2026. The organization says prevalence rises sharply with age and that early diagnosis can help families plan for care and services.
Public health advocates note that when a well-known figure shares an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, it can prompt wider conversations about support, caregiving and medical planning.
Ritter’s reported decision would close a familiar chapter for New Yorkers who have relied on him at the anchor desk for years. We will update this story if ABC7 releases Ritter’s statement or the station issues an official confirmation.
