Bill Ritter’s Family Recalls Emotional Moment News Anchor Announced His Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Live on Air (Exclusive)

**Beloved WABC Anchor Bill Ritter Opens Up About Alzheimer’s Diagnosis and Family Support**

Bill Ritter, the respected anchor of WABC’s Eyewitness News, recently shared a deeply personal announcement regarding his health on live television. In a heartfelt statement during his final broadcast on June 12, Ritter, 76, revealed that he had been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. While this news was a significant moment for him professionally, it was an even more transformative event for his family, who had been navigating the uncertainties of the diagnosis for the past two years.

Ritter’s emotional announcement came after a long period of grappling with the effects of the disease. His wife, Kathleen Friery, and their three children—Mia, 33, Ella, 17, and Owen, 31—stood together in the newsroom, visibly moved by the moment. While they had been processing this new reality privately, hearing it declared publicly marked a pivotal shift for the family.

Ella candidly expressed her feelings, admitting, “I was definitely in denial until he announced it to the public. That’s when it really hit me.” As they watched their father share his diagnosis with his colleagues and the viewing audience, the gravity of the situation struck home for both her and her sister, Mia. “We were just holding onto each other the whole time,” Ella recounted, highlighting the close bond they share during such challenging moments.

Kathleen, who has been married to Ritter for 18 years, also experienced an overwhelming wave of emotion during the broadcast. Two stage managers approached her with a significant gesture, offering Ritter his anchor chair—a symbol of his esteemed career. “That’s when I lost it,” she recalled, revealing the depth of her connection to both Ritter and his work.

The family had detected concerns about Ritter’s health as early as 2024, when he began to struggle with memory lapses. After extensive consultations and testing, a definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s came after a spinal tap in late 2025. Throughout this arduous journey, Ritter’s family prioritised open communication, ensuring that discussions about his health included everyone, particularly younger family members like Ella.

Mia, reflecting on their family dynamics, emphasised the importance of honesty in dealing with the diagnosis. “We’ve always been a really open family. It’s important for everyone to be on board and rally around not just my dad, but also Kathleen and Ella, as they are living with him day in and day out.”

As Ritter contemplates the future, he remains resolute about his priorities. “I want to spend more time with them because I didn’t spend all that time before,” he explained. Much of his career involved late-night broadcasts, leaving little time to connect with his family. Now, he aims to create lasting memories through family activities, including kayaking trips and bike rides, as well as being present for Ella’s last year of high school before college.

However, the family is acutely aware of the changes that the disease brings. Kathleen noted that Ritter, once sharp and articulate, now faces challenges in communication. “He was always such a great communicator…But it doesn’t come out in the same way. Things take him a lot longer,” she remarked, highlighting the emotional toll of witnessing someone’s decline.

Mia expressed her fears about how Ritter’s condition might impact future generations. “The dad that we knew is not going to be the grandfather that they know,” she shared, referencing her daughter, Sawyer. She added, “That’s terrifying,” illustrating the family’s collective grief over the uncertainty the diagnosis carries.

Despite the daunting reality ahead, Ritter has approached his diagnosis in a way that his family finds inspiring. Owen noted that Ritter’s desire to use his platform to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s has helped set a positive tone within the family. “He said, ‘I want to use this. I want to go public with it,’ and that made it hard to be like, ‘This is so sad,’ because he was being so matter-of-fact about it,” Owen explained, underscoring his father’s characteristic strength and resilience.

Ella and Mia both reiterated the influence Ritter has had on their lives, with each acknowledging their father’s selflessness and dedication to others. “He’s always cared about other people before himself. That’s just who he is,” Mia stated. With this legacy in mind, the family is committed to supporting Ritter as he faces his diagnosis.

As the Ritter family embarks on this new chapter, they remain united by their love for one another and their determination to make every moment count. Bill Ritter may be stepping away from his role at WABC, but his desire to be an active participant in his family’s lives remains at the forefront of their journey together.

For more on Bill Ritter’s ongoing journey and insights into his family’s perspective, readers can find an in-depth interview in the latest issue of PEOPLE, available on newsstands on Friday.