Bill Ritter’s been in the New York news business a long time. He joined WABC-TV Eyewitness News back in June 1998 and took over the 11 p.m. newscast in October 1999. He added the 6 p.m. show in February 2001. Before he made his way to New York, he was a writer at the Los Angeles Times and helped launch “Good Morning America/Sunday” at ABC way back in 1992.
His early years weren’t a straight line to the anchor desk. San Diego State actually expelled him for protesting the Vietnam War, and he didn’t finish a degree until he graduated from The New School in 2016.
Why did Bill Ritter step down from the anchor desk?
On June 12, 2026, at the end of the 6 p.m. news, Ritter told viewers his doctors had diagnosed him with early-stage Alzheimer’s. He stepped down from the anchor chair, but he’s still at ABC7, covering the disease and the cost of care — which he says is simply unaffordable for a lot of families.
He grew up watching it in his own family. His father, Irl (pronounced “Earl”), died in 1998 at age 81 from Lewy body dementia. Irl had been the emcee of the local Alzheimer’s group’s annual walk — that group is CaringKind now — for 28 years.
That’s the throughline on the current CaringKind campaign, “Know Your Brain. Walk With Me.” It launched with ABC7, and the campaign’s Times Square billboard was unveiled Friday, October 9.
“They say the treatments I’m getting are keeping it at bay,” Ritter said. “I really believe them.”
If you make it to the walk on Saturday, you’ll see the billboard’s message and you’ll see him. Here’s what to know before you go.
When and where is the CaringKind Alzheimer’s Walk?
It’s this Saturday, October 17, at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park. It’s the 38th year, and Ritter is being honored alongside longtime CaringKind leader Jed Levine. David Hyde Pierce and ABC7’s Mike Marza are emceeing.
- Time: Registration opens at 9:30 a.m., and the opening ceremony starts at 10:30 a.m.
- Cost: Free, but you do have to register at ckwalk.org.
- Route: You’ll walk a 2-mile loop around the park, and it goes on whether it rains or not.
- Can’t get there? Walk virtually on any route, or watch the livestream.
New this year: free brain health pre-screenings in a tent at the walk. CaringKind is clear it isn’t a diagnosis, just a starting point for a talk with your doctor. You can also get your hearing, vision and blood pressure checked.
What can you actually do for your brain health?
I stuck to the big, trustworthy sources here: the CDC, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Alzheimer’s Association.
- Move more. The CDC and NIA both point to 150 minutes of physical activity a week for adults. NIA says walking is a good start, which feels fitting this week.
- Keep an eye on blood pressure. NIA notes that high blood pressure in midlife, roughly your 40s to early 60s, is linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline later on.
- Don’t ignore your hearing. The CDC calls hearing loss a very important risk factor for dementia and says treating it with hearing aids may lower the risk.
- Sleep. NIA suggests generally seven to nine hours a night.
- Try to keep learning and keep your social life. The Alzheimer’s Association says picking up something new helps, and the NIA connects staying socially engaged with better cognitive health later on.
According to the CDC, you could prevent or delay close to 45% of dementia cases. That isn’t a promise for any one person, and nobody’s selling a cure here. It’s just a good reason to lace up.
If you’re worried about your own memory, or someone else’s, CaringKind runs a free, confidential helpline at 646-744-2900.
FAQ
Is the CaringKind Alzheimer’s Walk free?
Yes. There’s no registration fee, but everyone has to register so they can sign the waiver.
Can I join if I don’t live in New York?
You can. CaringKind lets people walk virtually from anywhere, at whatever distance works for them.
Is Bill Ritter still on TV?
He is. He reports on Alzheimer’s for Eyewitness News, and his half-hour “Living with Alzheimer’s” special airs Thursday, October 15, at 5:30 p.m. on ABC7.
If you go on Saturday, I’d love to hear how it went. And in Bill’s own word: onward.