Obituary: Heakin Research Founder Pat Heakin

Pat Heakin, founder of qual and quant data collection agency Heakin Research, died on March 29th at the age of 98.

Born in the Boston area, Heakin (pictured) met her husband, Frank in 1943 during WWII, when his Navy ship docked in New York for re-fitting. They were married for 43 years and raised three children: John, Patti and Kevin.

In 1963, when her children were almost grown up, she was looking for a career she could pursue from home, and set up Heakin Research from her laundry room. From there, she became a self-taught expert in shopping mall-based interviewing, and thirty-six years later, when she sold the company to Robert Kassow's Quick Test, Inc., it employed 2,900 staff in 36 offices in 26 cities across the US.

In an interview she gave to The Christian Science Monitor in 1983, Heakin explained: 'Voluntarily participating in a research survey, whether it is on the telephone, through the mail, at home, or in a shopping mall, can really make a difference. People who are investing in and developing new products count on this very reliable information. It is often a signal to decision makers. It also works to keep bad products off the market'.

Heakin was involved in the Marketing Research Association, and chaired the National Convention in Chicago, won the MRA 'Service to the Industry Award' twice, served as President of the Association, and in 2000 was appointed a Lifetime Honorary Member. In addition, Heakin served on two White House Commissions promoting consumer education.

When she retired from Heakin Research, she worked with Braveheart to expand hospice services in Chicago's southern suburbs. She will be missed by many, including former colleague Bill Irvine, who stated: 'I recall working with Pat in the early 1970s, and attending interviewer briefings in her basement. She was a delight to work with and hers was definitely a life well lived'. Karen Lewis, another former colleague, added: 'Pat was a mentor to me when I worked for her in the mid-70s as a young college student majoring in marketing. She was bold, determined, energetic and sharp as a tack. I will always be grateful for her direction'.

Heakin is survived by her brother Bill, her three children and their spouses, four grandchildren and spouses, and two great granddaughters.