Judy Niedermaier died Monday of lung cancer at her Gold Coast home. She was 71.
Her work included doing store displays, props, furniture and interiors, as well as helping produce fiberglass cows for Chicago’s 1999 “Cows on Parade” street art exhibit and collaborating with photographer Victor Skrebneski on a furniture collection.
Her husband Dale Niedermaier started their display firm in 1965 and by 1974, his wife had assumed the role of president, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. Over the years, the firm’s client list included AT&T, Henri Bendel, Bloomingdale’s, Coach, Marshall Field’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Gucci, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, Nike, Ralph Lauren Polo stores, Saks and Tiffany.
In 1985, she started Niedermaier Furniture with Gary Lee.
Niedermaier was active in social and charity circles, helping raise funds to combat cancer and AIDS. She also taught advanced interior design and architecture at the School of the Art Institute, where she was on the board of governors.
She earned a degree in education from the University of Miami, and taught at Florida’s Homestead Air Force Base and Prescott grade school in Chicago.
Niedermaier is survived by her son, Jeff, daughter, Diana Hayden, and five grandchildren.