Bill Ritter, a defining voice of New York television news for over two decades, has stepped down from his role as anchor of WABC’s 6 p.m. ‘Eyewitness News’ after revealing an early-stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The announcement came during his final broadcast on June 12, 2026, where he shared that while current treatments are managing symptoms, there is no cure. Ritter, who joined WABC in 1998 and became a household name anchoring alongside Liz Cho, emphasized that his departure from daily news does not mark the end of his journalism career.

He will continue working at WABC to focus on in-depth reporting about Alzheimer’s and related diseases, particularly the financial and emotional burden on patients and families. Ritter has a personal connection to the cause—his father died from Alzheimer’s in 1998—and he has long been active in awareness efforts, including co-hosting fundraising events with colleague Mike Marza, whose grandfather also had the disease.

Ritter’s legacy includes being part of the longest-running on-air news team at Channel 7 with Cho and a 25-year behind-the-scenes partnership with producer Zahir Sachedina. His decision to shift focus brings visibility to the growing public health challenge of neurodegenerative diseases, especially as the U.S. population ages and caregiving costs rise. No replacement for his anchor role has been officially named.