NYSID remembers a former member of its advisory board and an advocate for interior Design professionalization.    

The NYSID community is saddened by the passing of Jeannie Bochette, the former Marketing Manager for Business Development of Steelcase and a member of NYSID’s Advisory Board for many years. Ms. Bochette died on January 16, 2021 at the age of 77.

Bochette was a force for good at Steelcase during the course of her 38-year career there. According to her obituary in Interior Design magazine, “Under Bochette's leadership, Steelcase focused its efforts on giving back through charitable projects and events, such as Dining by Design, the AIDS Momentum Project, and the United Hospital Fund/Healthy Kids event.”

Bouchette was also a force behind the professionalization of interior design through her advocacy for standards, legislation, and licensure in the industry. She was a key figure in the formation and development of IDLNY (Interior Designers for Legislation in New York) and served as a board member of that organization for many years. The IDLNY’s mission is to inform and educate the New York legislative and regulatory bodies, interior designers and consumers about the issues facing the interior design profession.

She was also an active member of NY11+, an organization dedicated to promoting public awareness of interior design education and the impact of the profession on the health, safety, welfare and economics of the public.

“As a senior manager at Steelcase in New York City, Jeanne provided meeting space and refreshments for NY11+ board meetings and student events, and hosted professional events in the showroom that showcased awareness of the importance of legislation supporting licensure and other legislative initiatives,” says NYSID Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean Ellen Fisher. “Her support enabled these key organizations to focus on their goals. Her advocacy made a difference to our profession, and to the design industry at large.”