Veteran ABC New York anchor Bill Ritter has been widely praised for his final sign-off after revealing he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. The 76-year-old made the announcement during the 6pm Eyewitness News broadcast on Friday, which he confirmed would be his last as anchor.
Ritter, who has anchored the 6pm broadcast since 2001, told viewers: 'After a series of tests, my doctors have told me I have Alzheimer's. It's early stage, 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.' He added that unless a cure is found soon, the broadcast would be his final one as anchor.
Ritter will remain with the network to produce in-depth reports on Alzheimer's and related diseases, focusing on the financial burden on families and the need for more affordable treatment. 'This station wants to dig deeper into the rising tide of Alzheimer's,' he said. His father died from the same disease in June 1998, a loss that has clearly shaped his decision to continue raising awareness.
Social media has been flooded with tributes, with viewers calling his sign-off 'heartbreaking' and 'brave'. One Instagram user wrote: 'Class and integrity. Not too many left like him.' Another said: 'Sending love to you and your family. You are amazing and will be missed.' Ritter joined WABC in 1998 after a career in broadcast and print journalism in California, and has been a trusted face for millions of New Yorkers ever since.
While this story originates from the United States, it resonates strongly with UK audiences, where Alzheimer's affects an estimated 900,000 people. The BBC has covered similar stories of public figures sharing diagnoses, such as former Match of the Day presenter Des Lynam discussing his father's dementia. Ritter's decision to use his platform to highlight the disease's human and financial costs mirrors efforts by UK charities like Alzheimer's Society to destigmatise the condition and push for better care.