Award-winning journalist dedicated to seeking and revealing the truth for the public’s right to know and an all-news-radio pioneer, William Thomas Deane, 90, of New York, New York, passed away suddenly on September 9, 2024, in Naples, Florida, surrounded by friends and family, due to complications of a long fought battle with heart disease and dementia.

William “Bill” Thomas Deane was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Lucille Deane. He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Dana Deane; son, Russell Steven Deane; daughter-in-law, Mimi; former wife, Lillian Elizabeth Deane, and her husband, Roger Hoffman.

On the frontlines of the latter half of the twentieth century’s most important stories, the seeds of Bill’s journalism ambitions took root beside a Depression-era cathedral-style radio in the living room of his grandparents’ Rochester, New York home. “On-the-Spot” live from London was appointment radio for young Bill, and the WWII reports from the other side of the pond inspired him to become a CBS journalist just like the announcer, Edward R. Murrow. Little could Bill have known that half a century later, he’d be honored with the annual Radio and Television News Director’s Association Award titled after the same announcer’s namesake.

Yet Bill’s path from Upstate New York to CBS Radio Network Editor in New York City was circuitous. His start began at radio stations perched atop the snow-covered hills of Northwest Pennsylvania just thirty miles east of Allegheny College, where he was a speech-drama major from 1952 to 1956. While Bill studied by day, he broadcasted from WTIV Titusville and WKRZ Oil City across the sparsely populated foothills of the Allegheny Mountains by night. The hours were long but worth it. Bill was honing his announcing skills for bigger stations in larger markets after graduation. Yet, even the best-laid plans go astray. With the receipt of his college degree came an Army draft notice with a direct flight to basic training at Fort Hood, Texas.

But even the military could not restrain Bill’s creativity. While stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground, he developed “Monitor,” a formatted radio show aired to regional commercial market outlets. He also had authority over post radio announcements and information released to Baltimore and Washington D.C. television stations on productions involving military post activities, a position he held until 1958.

By 1960, with two years of active duty and two of four years of Army Reserves behind him, newly armed with a master’s degree in television from Syracuse University, Bill found himself on the sun-soaked beaches of Miami on vacation. The contrast between the snowbelt and the sunbelt was undeniable, and Bill decided to stay. He joined forces with the WFUN radio station team, establishing a groundbreaking new format: 24-7 top-40. Bill shed his “Dizzy Dean” WNDR Syracuse, New York radio show handle used throughout his master’s degree studies and adopted the new WFUN persona “James Madison Bey.” As a celebrity disc jockey under a new alias, Bill engaged in promotional events reflective of the station’s call letters and basked in the glitz and glamour of the 1960s Miami entertainment scene. While stars such as Bobby Darin and Connie Francis jockeyed him for airplay time, young up-and-coming musicians sought his mentorship. Bill was even called upon to greet “The Fab Four” when John, Paul, George, and Ringo landed at Miami International Airport during the initiation of the British Invasion.

But when the fun in the sun wore thin and the Cold War heated up, Bill’s original calling to investigate serious matters prevailed. From News Director at WBBF Rochester, and then KBTR Denver, where he established their first all-news format quadrupling ratings within three months, to Radio Anchor and Editor at KYW, Philadelphia, Bill eventually moved to ABC Network News in New York City before joining CBS Radio Network in 1975 where he remained for the next three decades.

At CBS Radio Network, his star rose quickly with a promotion to Full Editor. He led the all-important afternoon drive assignment desk and was integral to many awards and ‘firsts’ shared by the newsroom team. Getting the story on fast was important, but as his general manager said, “Bill also made certain it was right. Just when a reporter thought they’d asked all the pertinent questions, Bill would come up with one more that would make or break the story.” Affectionately known in the newsroom as the “Deane Machine,” Bill never forgot how hard it can be on the ‘new guy’ and always made time for young desk assistants looking for that big break. Bill helped push people to be their very best, and many he mentored are now integral parts of newsrooms throughout the country and household names nationwide.

By the mid-2000s, Bill elected retirement from CBS to write Smooth Criminal, A One-Man American Crime Wave, a true story chronicling the life of a CIA operative Bill met during the Cold War period in Miami. He also collaborated with his daughter Jennifer in writing a screenplay by the same name. In retirement, Bill sailed around the world numerous times via cruise ship lines as a featured guest lecturer on twentieth-century broadcast journalism.

Outside of his radio broadcast work, Bill lent his voice to commercial and industrial voiceovers and used his acting talents in off-Broadway shows. Bill was a member of the Radio Television News Directors Association, New York Press Club, Investigative Reporters & Editors, Society of Professional Journalists, Radio Television Digital News Association, AFTRA, EQUITY, SAG, WGAE, and the winner of many awards, including the Edward R. Murrow for Best Coverage of a Major Breaking News Event, the Assignation of Yitzhak Rabin.

Bill was a great believer in giving back. He had a passion for the Adirondacks and donated generously. Bill also honored his beginnings by supporting his alma mater, Allegheny College. He recruited many New York City area high schoolers by introducing the benefits of education in a rural setting away from the metropolis. He was a sometimes Sunday School teacher throughout his life and even officiated a religious Sunday service to inmates at Rikers Island prison for some time during his retirement.

William “Bill” Thomas Deane loved life and hung onto every bit until he could no longer. Above all, he was a loving father to his children, Jennifer and Russell. We were blessed to have had him with us for 90 years. His gifts of knowledge carry on in all those he lifted up and he will be missed dearly by all who were honored to know him.

A private memorial service for friends and family will be held in Naples, Florida.