The important, wonderful, well-lived life, of Linda Foa ended on June 17, 2016. Her legacy includes much of the credit for creating, directing, and sustaining crucial family values for her truelove spouse, Conrad, their sons Barrett and Justin, and his sons Max and Luke. Linda kept bonds with her brother, Rudy Rimanich and his family, her mother-in-law, Marie Foa, and the Dickman and Pecorella families.
She and Conrad were both born in Wickersham Hospital (across the street from Bloomingdale’s); Linda was born there 51 weeks after Conrad. Linda’s family resided in Jamaica Estates, NY, where she graduated from The Mary Louis Academy. Linda often referred happily to her university days at Parsons/NYU where she pursued a dual degree in Fashion and Fine Arts. Even at Parsons, Linda’sbeauty and astute sense of style were evident, and are still legendary. Her natural beauty, slim figure, blue eyes, and straight, long, naturally blonde hair gave pause to many.
For 50 years, Linda and Conrad did everything [charity work, politics, business support, travel] together. They really were inseparable.
Her children, Justin [fifth generation and most successful, owner and CEO of the 155 year-old international insurance brokerage firm, Foa & Son] and Barrett [respected, multi-talented actor, singer, dancer and lead in two TONY Award-winning shows on Broadway, and currently an eight year series-regular on CBS’s NCIS Los Angeles] give testimony to her mothering skills.
Linda was an important editor at Fairchild’s Home Furnishings Daily and HFN. While rearing her children, she wrote several cover lead articles for New York Magazine, articles for the New York Times Style Section, and co-authored Kids’ Stuff, the definitive furnishings guide to children’s furniture and home environments [Pantheon/Random House], and wrote the book, Furniture for the Workplace [PBC].
Linda was the long-time Executive Director of Designer’s Saturday, which was considered strategically important to the furniture design community. Linda facilitated and coordinated the assembly of over 100 participating showrooms and propelled Designer’s Saturday into an international event.
Linda and Brooke Astor were founders of Furnish a Future that still gives furniture and household items to families that are homeless and moving into unfurnished housing.
Linda coordinated Conrad’s two political campaigns for NY State Senate. She was a long-time Democratic District
Leader for the Upper East Side and Chaired the Annual Gala for the Lexington Democratic Club for many years.
As the Director of Marketing for the Architects and Designers Building for the last 12+ years, Linda is givenmuch credit for increasing occupancy from 70% to 100%+ for the building’s 35+ luxury brand furniture showrooms. She was cited and awarded for her contribution to marketing by Merchandise Mart Properties. Linda was beloved and sought after by the tenants in “her” A&D Building.
By her interest in others, her style, and take no prisoners demeanor, you knew when she was “in the room”.
For those who knew, loved, and admired her, Linda Foa leaves a void that is impossible to fill.
Linda died of breast cancer that metastasized into her brain and lungs. She died the way she wanted to die: peacefully, at home, in the loving arms of her family.
Linda was an intelligent, confident, stylish, and caring force of nature who will live in the hearts of her family all who knew her.
Please join us to remember Linda at the Unitarian Church of All Souls at 1157 Lexington Avenue [80th Street] at 11:00am on July 28, 2016. There will be a reception for Linda’s friends afterward.
Lovingly,
Conrad, Justin, Barrett.