William “Bill” Thomas Knoop, age 55, of Phoenix Arizona, passed away on October 27, 2020 after being hospitalized for a head injury.
Bill was born in Toledo, Ohio on January 23, 1965. He was a 1983 graduate from Upper Arlington High School (Ohio), and subsequently attended Miami University (Ohio) where he studied design and marketing and was a member of the SAE fraternity.
Bill started his career working in promotions for WNCI radio station in Columbus, where he had a key role in the first “Red, White and Boom” 4th of July celebration. He continued his career with a move to Cincinnati and a position with WKRC. In the summer of 1990, Bill took a job as Promotions Manager for KZZP in Phoenix, Arizona and was welcomed to the state with a record high temperature of 122 degrees on his move day. He helped the station transition format and call letters to KVRY, being awarded AWRT Best Promotion/Creative Person – Radio multiple years.
In 1996 Bill made the move to TV at KSAZ Fox 10 Phoenix as Sales Promotion Manager and continued there for a number of years. Afterward, he started and ran numerous aspects of a local newspaper, Heatstroke News.
Around the same time, Bill volunteered at the Southwest Center, a health organization serving Phoenix. He later took a position there as a Marketing / PR Specialist and continued to volunteer as well.
In his spare time, Bill enjoyed cooking and home projects. For many years, he took on the challenge to join in the annual Historic District Christmas Home Tour, winning many awards for the creativity and lengths to which he went in decorating his 1920s home to celebrate the season.
Bill is survived by his long-term, dear friend, Freddy Saenz of Phoenix, AZ; father, Charlie of Upper Arlington, OH; brother, Peter of Northville, MI; aunt, Phyllis Herzog of Upper Arlington, OH; cousin, Barbara Herzog and son, Jake (Elizabeth) Early of Upper Arlington and daughter, Kaitlyn (Joseph) Colvin of Lexington, KY; cousin, Judy (Dan) Wertz and sons, Trevor and Nathan of Centerville, OH.
Bill is preceded in death by his mother, Nancy, and grandparents, Harley & Agnes Knoop and William & Betty White.
The family asks that donations in memorial are made to the Southwest Center, 101 N Central Ave #200, Phoenix, AZ 85004.
Rachel DeMarco
I am so sorry to hear this. I met Bill years ago when I was about 12 and he worked at KZZP. He was mutual friends with my mom and and helped get tickets to my first concert. He was always nice. I’m sad to have lost touch with him over the years. He will be missed.
Susan (Miklosik) Cashman
I’m not sure why this is being shared now and not at his passing? Bill was one of my closest and dearest friends in High School . So many memories and so many laughs with Bill, Jessie, Kris and Kris. He was a great guy to be around and I wish I would have stayed in touch, but life took us in different directions. A great memory: One night he drove us in his VW Golf? down Walhala Dr with the top down, lights off and he pretended to stall the car!! Oh the screams!!!! My deepest condolences to Freddy, his brother, Peter, his father and the rest of his family. He will be missed
Alison Frost
I’m so sorry to hear about Bill. Our paths have have crossed over many years starting with his days at KZZP. We always managed to connect throughout the years and he always greeted you like it was yesterday. My condolences to his family and Freddy.