Interior Designer Linda Blair Passes Away at 87

Linda Blair, a well-known interior designer, whose career and influence extended from her former design office on Chase Rd. to many other places across the United States, passed away at the age of 87, on Friday, July 3. She was in the comfort of her own Westchester County home, surrounded by many loved ones from her immediate family. According to her family, a long battle with the dreaded disease of Alzheimer's, which spanned three to five years, was the overall cause of Linda's death.

Linda was born on May 25, 1939, to Magda and Samuel Bierman, in New York City. She attended Ohio State University, graduated cum laude from Goucher College and earned a master's degree in education. After founding her own interior design company, Linda lectured extensively, taught design at several local colleges and wrote a column on design issues for the New York Post. She appeared regularly as an expert guest on local TV and radio. In 1996, she authored a book, Design Sense: A Guide to Getting the Most from Your Interior Design Investment, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Following a first marriage that ended in divorce, Linda was married for 48 years to William Doescher, a leading worldwide communications and marketing executive. The couple was heavily involved in Village activities and volunteered much time to various organizations. People close to the couple speculated that if someone had run a popularity contest in the Village, Linda and Bill could have easily been selected “Mr. and Mrs. Scarsdale.”

Throughout her adult life, Linda was a tireless Village volunteer. During the four decades she lived in Scarsdale, she generously headed many important Village organizations. She was a member and chairperson of the Architectural Review Board and a member of the Forum. In May 2005, Linda served as the lead designer for a very successful and profitable showhouse at the Scarsdale’s Woman’s Club on Drake Road where she successfully encouraged and managed 20 other well-known and ASID-accredited professional interior designers. She was also president of ASID-New York twice.

The Blair-Doescher family lived on Fox Meadow Road in Scarsdale for 40 years, and all four of their children -- Michelle Blair (of Alameda, CA), Douglas Doescher (of New Rochelle, NY), Marc Blair (of Washington Depot, CT), and Cinda Doescher Malec (of Bedford Hills, NY) -- graduated from Scarsdale High School and went onto college. In addition to her children and her husband William (Bill) Doescher, (of Yonkers, NY), Linda is survived by seven grandchildren -- Sam Blair, Sabrina Malec, Margaret Malec, Noreen Malec, Charlotte Blair, Fiona Rose Blair Hammond and Coco Blair.

According to her husband Bill, "Linda loved everybody in the family from the bottom of her heart. And, we all loved her right back."

The funeral service was scheduled for 10 am, Wednesday, July 8, at Congregation Kol Ami’s Chapel in the Woods, in White Plains.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Linda Blair's name to the Alzheimer's Association.