Eleanor D. Becker

1926 - 2018

In Memoriam -
Eleanor Damiani Becker
July 3, 1926 - December 26, 2018

 

 
Eleanor Damiani Becker, an influential home furnishings textile designer and art director in the 70's and 80's whose work has been widely imitated by mass-market manufacturers in the United States and Europe, passed away peacefully Wednesday, at Hackensack Meridian Health Ocean Medical Center. She was 92. She was surrounded by her family. She and her husband Thurman Charles Becker, are formerly of Tewksbury, New Jersey.
 
Mrs. Becker was an art director at Wilshire, Shapiro and Sons, and Crown Textiles, leading suppliers of fabrics and home furnishings to interior designers and retail chains throughout the United States. Her designs were classic and timeless. She received her inspiration from antique textiles, which she collected while traveling throughout Europe with her husband, Thurman Charles Becker. She regularly participated in international textile fairs in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Hong Kong during her career.
 
Mrs. Becker was born in 1926 in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from Hunter College High School and Hunter College, where she studied opera, piano, and fine arts. She sang as a coloratura soprano soloist with the Hunter College High School Chorus under guest conductor Arturo Toscanini. She was one of the young New York talents discovered by Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts. She also sang during that time with newly discovered Vic Damone, with whom she shared a vocal coach. Her family was concerned about the demands and challenging life for such a beautiful, talented young woman in the music industry and insisted she turn down a vocal contract with Arthur Godfrey, instead continuing her piano, voice, and opera studies privately, and marrying and beginning a family. 
 
Her first marriage ended in divorce.
 
She continued vocalizing, studying piano, and painting into her later years. After she left the design industry, immediately upon retirement, she completed further studies locally at Monmouth University. Her wonderful sense of humor and passion for the arts and politics continued until days before her passing. At 92, she read voraciously, remained fluent in Italian and world politics, and maintained an interest in opera.
 
She is survived by her devoted husband and soulmate of 43 years, retired engineer Thurman Charles Becker; and her two sons and daughter from her first marriage: Dr. Michael Scaglione of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, and Thomas Scaglione of Tampa, Florida; a daughter and son in law, Rosellen and Dr. Jean Otrakji of Rumson, New Jersey and Naples, Florida; and grandchildren Jean Alexander Otrakji, Jr. and Michael Scaglione III. 
 
She is also survived by Mr. Becker's children: Barbara Ann Peterson, Rebekah DaVault, Christine Hall, Johnathon Becker, and his twelve grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.
 
A private service is planned for the immediate family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the American Academy in Rome.