Thomas William Watson

An advertising industry innovator and champion of education, Tom Watson died on November 17, 2024. He was the co-founder and former Vice Chairman of the Omnicom Group, Inc., where he also founded the Omnicom University executive program.

Born in 1934 he grew up in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens, the only son of George W. and Margaret Watson.

Thinking he wanted to be a veterinarian, he attended Delaware Valley College (now Delaware Valley University) in Doylestown, PA. Despite an almost immobile arm due to a birth injury, he lettered with the college baseball team for all four years. He would later receive an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the university.

After graduating in 1957 he landed a job with Abbott Laboratories, selling medicine for animals to such clients as Frank Purdue. He wanted to get into marketing, so he made what he called “a bold move”: he packed up his family and moved back to New York with no job lined up. In 1960 he landed a job in the marketing department at Merck & Co. At nights he worked toward earning an MBA from Hofstra University. 

In 1963 he began his career in advertising at Interpublic’s Erwin Casey Agency. After a stint at the Robert A. Becker ad agency he joined BBDO in 1966, at the dawn of the Mad Men era. 

Watson rose to an executive position that had him involved in the merger of BBDO with other agencies to create Omnicom in 1986. He managed several pro bono initiatives including In Roads, the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, and the Jackie Robinson Foundation—a particular thrill for this fan of Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers.

During his long tenure at Omnicom he became increasingly interested in helping colleagues improve their skills, which led in 1995 to his founding Omnicom University, an executive training program that continues to this day. He served as Dean of the program until his retirement in 2005. As he liked to say, “Those who can, do. Those who excel, teach."

Watson’s dedication to education led to his creating the Watson Executive in Residence Program in the business department of Delaware Valley University. Along with his wife, Judee Wales Watson, he also funded a scholarship and improvements to the school’s athletic department, including new batting cages, backstops and dugouts on the baseball field, and new locker rooms.

In his personal life he married Geraldine Moore in 1959. They had five children: Bret Watson, Kelly Watson, Carrie Mangels, Shannon Skilling and Stacy King. 

In 1986 Watson married Judee Truncer Wales, an actor, producer, singer, and writer. Together Tom and Judee Watson founded Two Bare Arms Productions, LLC. Tom served as executive producer for Mixed Signals, a 2001 short film Judee starred in, shown at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. He also was an executive producer of Judee’s CD Love Life and her music videos “My Other Half” and “Goldfinger."

Together Wales and Watson established an actor scholarship and artist-in-residence program at Wales’ alma mater, Emerson College in Boston.

For several years Watson performed with colleagues as a clown in the Macy’s Thankgiving Parade. His other pastimes included travel, tennis, and (briefly) race car driving.

Watson concluded his 2007 commencement address at his alma mater by quoting “America’s greatest jazz composer, Duke Ellington: ‘In music and in life, be always in a state of becoming.’"

Watson is survived by his wife, Judee Wales Watson; his first wife, Geraldine Moore, their five children, and five grandchildren: Cara Mangels, Jessica Mangels, Vivian King, Harrison Skilling and Gracelyn Skilling. 

In lieu of flowers the family invites our friends and loved ones to make a donation to The Milton Public Hall Association, PO Box 302, Litchfield, CT 06759. Donations can also be made using Venmo, miltonpublichall@gmail.com. 

There will be a celebration of Tom Watson’s life in New York City in early spring. A Funeral Service will be held Tuesday November 26 AT 10:30 AT Trinity Episcopal Church 536 Milton Rd Litchfield CT with burial following at Milton Cemetery.  online memorials www.phalenfuneral.com

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