Evelyn said he looked at her, and then his eyes rolled up and he was gone. It was cardiac arrest. He will be interred at Arlington Cemetery. Andy Brown organized a memorial Zoom for his industry friends.
Click here to watch the video of
the ZOOM tribute to Bill.
He had a big heart and made friends easily, was a genius, and meticulous in his studies. His life was a full one, from flying Phantoms off of carriers to inventing ScanAmerica to running RMT and designing the new audience currency system in India, BARC, and a heck of a lot more. I was with him when we were meeting new people, and wherever they came from, Bill always had been there and knew the special places, having seen a lot of the world while a pilot in the Navy. I’m going to miss him. I miss him already.
Here is what people who knew Bill McKenna are saying about him:
He was a great man, very highly moral and intelligent, and was a great MRC participant when he owned Mediafax in Puerto Rico. ~ George Ivie
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I first met Bill M in 1965-1966 when we were both working with Arbitron. We met again and again, and he became one of my favorite people. He knew everyone in the industry globally and had his finger on every pulse. After that, I always wanted to be able to work with him again. When I was starting TRA, I went to Bill, and he talked to Irwin Gotlieb about TRA, and then WPP became our first investor. Bill was on the TRA Board. Then, when we sold TRA to TiVo, I told Bill about my plans for RMT and asked him to be a 50/50 partner with me, and that he should be CEO, and I should be Chairman. He asked for all the background material, and I sent him a huge pile. He read it and absorbed it all completely within 24 hours and agreed to the deal.
I miss him already. But I have a feeling that he is happily surprised to still be aware of his own existence and is in a good mood. ~ Bill Harvey
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I’m so very sorry, Bill. Bill McKenna was commanding, lucid, and fully present until the end…and certainly loved, respected, and admired. As I age, I know it’s the best kind of closing act anyone can ask for. ~ Audrey Steele
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Wow. Bill, this is truly heartbreaking news. And an entire surprise for me in every way. Bill McKenna always seemed like someone who would always be with us. I look forward to talking to you and reflecting. ~ Lucas Tanner
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Such sad news. He truly was a genius and a gentleman. I got to spend some time with him on a few trips down to Puerto Rico on business. He was such a gracious host and was always proud of the PR media scene. He was, above all, a nice person and will be missed very much. ~ David Ernst
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Oh man. I’m so sorry to hear that. Bill was a true giant in the business.
I remember seeing you, Spaeth, and Bill together at an ARF at the Hilton and calling you “the single-source mafia.”
Sorry for your loss. ~ Joshua Chasin
Oh no, such very sad news. I’m sorry for your loss, Bill. He was a true media research legend, and even more importantly, he was a terrific guy. Years ago, when a small startup I was at, on whose board Bill M served, had to close its doors in the throes of the 2008 ‘great recession’ at Thanksgiving time that year, Bill told me, “Don’t worry; you’ll be fine”. And a week later, I’m interviewing with Bill Harvey and this then-partner at TRA, also on whose board Bill M served; he totally cleared a fast path for me to get these interviews. And for some reason, they hired me. And now, here we are, these many years later. Thank you to both the Bills for that. And God bless Bill M ~ Steve Walsh
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I just heard that our mutual friend Bill passed away on Sunday. I know you were close to him, so please accept my condolences.
Is there any plan to remember Bill across the industry? I would love to support.
Many thanks, Bill. Such a lovely tribute. He was one of the special ones. Always so kind, generous with his time and his knowledge. I was supposed to be his “boss” at Kantar Media. Bill was never a line report but always a partner. I learned so much from him. His experience was invaluable and influenced me significantly.
I trust that the research industry recognises his achievements (not just in the US, because his influence was global, e.g., BARC in India).
Condolences to Evelyn and the family. ~ Andy Brown
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I’m so sorry to hear this. I didn’t know him well, but I loved his energy and enthusiasm for our collaborations and ideas. My deepest condolences to Bill’s family and to all of you who worked closely with him over the years. ~ Elizabeth Nan Johnson
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I met Bill in the early 1980s when I was a media researcher at J. Walter Thompson Chicago. Bill was such a charismatic research guy who had his finger on the pulse of everything. He was energetic, funny, smart and was really passionate about his work. I had the opportunity to speak at an audience measurement conference in Puerto Rico when Bill first set up the measurement system down there – and I remember how excited he was about the whole opportunity. Bill was such a nice guy. I enjoyed leaning from him throughout the years. He has left a mark – on me, but on our industry at large. Rest in peace, Bill. Your friend Alice ~ Alice Sylvester
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Thank you for the short note on your history with him, Bill. I crossed paths with Bill many times over the years and echo yours and others’ sentiments about Bill – brilliant mind, warm, generous friend. He will be missed. ~ Pat Pellegrini
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I’m so sorry to hear this, Bill. This is a major loss. ~ Michael Platt
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He was a big personality that will be missed, but it also sounds like he lived a great and full life, which should be celebrated. ~ Kasper Skou
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I am shocked. Somehow, Bill’s departure is so unexpected. I thought he would live forever. He was so vibrantly full of life, so his departure is so unexpected.
Unlike you, I had no business dealing with him. But I liked him a lot as a friend and a colleague. He was a FINE man!!
May his spirit soar. ~ Gabriel Samuels
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Bill rescued me from the stifling (for me) world of corporate America and introduced me to the energizing world of entrepreneurship. He has been a mentor, a role model and most of all a friend. Bill is on a very short list of people who changed my life. I send my condolences to his family. Also to Bill Harvey, who I believe to have been his last collaborator. And my best thoughts to Bill’s spirit as it heads toward his next big adventure. ~ Jim Spaeth
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Deepest condolences on the loss of your longtime friend, Bill. I didn’t have much interaction with Bill McKenna, but the emails yesterday were very moving, and it is easy to see what a great businessman and friend he was. ~ George Niver
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Missing Bill McKenna already. He was and is an inspiration to me. There is so much I have learnt from working with him. My condolences to you, his colleagues, and his family. ~ Milind Sattur
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I was very sorry to hear the news about Bill McKenna. I got to know him when we were both members of the management team at Kantar Media Research in the mid-noughties, and he was such an engaging and enthusiastic person to deal with. ~ Richard Asquith
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I’m so sorry for your loss, Bill. While I’ve only interacted with him via email, he sounds like an incredible person who lived a very full life. Sending love, ~ Kristin Dragos
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Wow. Bill, this is truly heartbreaking news. And an entire surprise for me in every way. Bill McKenna always seemed like someone who would always be with us. I look forward to talking to you and reflecting. ~ Lucas Tanner
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I’m so sorry for your loss, and for this news about Bill. While my interactions with him were fairly recent, it was a pleasure to work with him. Pat has always had great things to say about him as well.
To work with and be friends with someone as long as you two have is a great privilege, and I know you’ll have many memories to hold onto.
Sending my condolences to you, and to Bill’s family and friends. ~ Tosha Kirk
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I heard about Bill (McKenna) passing. I’m so incredibly sorry to hear about this great loss. My heart goes out to you, his team, and his family.
Sending peace and light. ~ Kym Frank
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Bill, my condolences to all, and to you on the loss of a friend and colleague.
~ Bob DeSena
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I just heard from a post by Josh Chasin on LinkedIn that Bill McKenna passed. I’m so sorry for you. My deepest condolences. ~ Rick Bruner
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Thanks for organizing this. Bill was one of the good and smart guys. ~ John Dimling
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I can’t believe he was 86. You guys are ageless. I learned a lot from Bill during our chats over the years. I will miss him as a mentor. ~ Terrance Kent
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Bill, I am so sorry for your loss. Bill (McKenna)was a great man. ~ Phil Howort
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My heartfelt condolences go out to you, Bill McKenna’s family, friends, and colleagues. I know he was a long-time friend and partner of yours. In his long and full life, he must have touched so many lives in the very best way.
Although I didn’t know Bill well, I had the good fortune to work with him directly from afar. I was impressed by his clarity in understanding and expressing exactly what he wanted and needed. I am sure he will be missed in many ways by many people. ~ Christine Niver
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William “Bill” John McKenna
July 15, 1939 — August 31, 2025
On August 31, 2025, William “Bill” J. McKenna passed away peacefully in Fulton, Maryland.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, he has served as a Captain in the United States Naval Reserves for 22 years. Following his military career, he earned his MBA from Northwestern Kellogg, where afterwards he became an entrepreneur and a pioneer in the television media research industry.
Beyond his professional achievements, Bill will be remembered most as a devoted husband, loving father, trusted mentor, and dear friend. Bill met his wife, Evelyn, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and has shared 24 years of marriage. He was the proud father of William McKenna Jr. (Bill Jr.)(Wife Michelle McKenna), Mary Elizabeth McKenna, Mark Joseph McKenna, James W. McKenna, and John P. McKenna, as well as a loving stepfather to Gabriel Villalobos and Alejandro Villalobos, and brother of Tom McKenna (wife Judy McKenna). Bill was cherished by his five grandchildren, Alexander (Alec), Elise, Matthew (Matt), Adeline (Adele), and Isabella (Izzy), beloved uncle, and brother-in-law. He was preceded by his parents, James and Adeline, and his wife, Sharon McKenna.