A beloved news anchor has announced his retirement after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, saying his life has ‘taken a turn’
Bill Ritter has announced his retirement after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
News presenter Bill Ritter has revealed his retirement following an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The ABC New York news anchor concluded Friday’s programme with a “very personal message.”
He revealed that after celebrating his 75th birthday last year, he chose to “cut back a bit” to allow more quality time with his loved ones.
He had already stepped back from presenting the 11pm and 5pm bulletins, but now plans to depart entirely as his “life has taken a turn”.
“My goal was to spend more time with my family,” he told viewers. “Now, a year ago, I became a grandfather, thanks to my oldest daughter, and later this summer, I’ll have a second grandchild, thanks to my son, and in a year from now, my youngest daughter will graduate high school.
“But spending more time with my family has now become even more important, because my life has taken a turn.”
He revealed that “after a series of tests”, medics had confirmed he has Alzheimer’s. He added, “It’s early-stage Alzheimer’s, 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. So, unless someone finds an amazing cure, and soon, tonight (Friday) will be the last newscast I anchor.”
Bill assured audiences they would continue to see him “on air and online” after paying tribute to several of his colleagues.
“I want to say thank you to my bosses at ABC, they have treated me and my family with compassion and humanity and warmth,” he said with visible emotion.
As he pondered what he was “going to do now”, he explained: “I will continue helping the young journalists at Eyewitness News.
“I am also going to remain a journalist at Eyewitness News, so you’ll still see me on air and online because this station wants to dig deeper into the rising tide of Alzheimer’s, and other similar diseases, including how it’s affecting patients and their families, how the price of treatment and the price of caring for patients is simply unaffordable and how this country might begin to change that.”
“I’m not a stranger to this disease,” Bill said, sharing that his dad died of it in June 1998.
“I have since been active in the fight to stop Alzheimer’s, and I will continue doing that, along with my friend Mike Marza, who took my place, you recall, last year on Eyewitness News at 5 and 11.
“Mike’s grandfather died from this disease, and we have MC’d together many Alzheimer’s awareness events to spread the word.”
Bill wrapped up the segment: “I am going to so miss reporting the news to all of you, with the truth and with facts, no matter where they fall. It has been my honor to do just that. But for now, I wish you health and peace. Let’s take care of each other.”
#Beloved #presenter #announces #emotional #Alzheimers #diagnosis #live #air
