Kenneth “Ken” Stanciel Sr., one of the first African American broadcast sales executives at Chicago’s general market CBS Radio (WBBM), has died.
Throughout his media career, including many years at Chicago’s famed Gannett-owned WGCI/WVON, Stanciel broke ground, opening doors for the future of corporate spending with African American audiences. With experience in both general market and the African American market media, Stanciel also was quite familiar with the wants and needs of the Latino audience, having worked for one of Chicago’s premier Spanish market television stations. His knowledge of both sides of the industry and his outgoing nature made Stanciel one of the most successful media account executives in the city.
Ken was loved by colleagues and clients alike. He decided against many national network sales offers, choosing instead to remain in his hometown market of Chicago. Prior to his long tenure in broadcast sales, he worked in sales for large corporations, including Gerber Products Co., Campbell’s Co. and Seagrams.
Ken Stanciel had a love of entertainment, whether acting or singing. He studied acting at Chicago’s Goodman School, after which he was cast in several local theater productions as a singer and actor. Ken could be seen for many years in statewide television commercials for an Illinois insurance service. His lifelong love of acting also led him to small movie roles in such films as “Backdraft,” “The Unborn” and “The Dark Knight.”
Stanciel’s impeccable sense of fashion was often noticed and attempts were made at copying his style. Columnist Stella Foster once cited Ken in the infamous Chicago Sun-Times’ “Kup’s Column” as a “Best Dressed” media salesman in Chicago.
Stanciel eventually retired from Gannett’s WGCI and WVON to focus more attention toward the elevator business he had begun and grown.
Kenneth Stanciel was born in Malvina, Miss., in 1934 before moving to Chicago where he attended Crane High School and DePaul University. He served his country in the United States Air Force in Korea and as a baseball player.
In 1959, Ken married Deborah Jones of Chicago. They had two sons, Ken II and Kevin. Following her passing in 1995, Ken married Morgan State University alumna and former WGCI Bloomberg Television anchor Dianne Thompson in 1999.
Stanciel is survived by his wife, Dianne; his sons, Ken II and Kevin; five grandchildren; one great- grandchild and a host of relatives, friends, former colleagues and neighbors.
Ken passed away peacefully at his home in New Jersey on Feb. 27, 2025.