Industry Vet Marjorie Hoyne Dies

New York — Services were held last week for Marjorie Hoyne, former president of Covington Industries' Spectrum Fabrics division, who died after a long illness on April 21.

A decorative fabrics/home textiles industry veteran, Hoyne began her career as a fabrics editor for House & Garden magazine. She later held merchandising positions at fiber producer Courtauld's and at Kenneth Home Fashions, where she rose to president of the company. She later served as president and ceo of Rex Home Fashions, a division of Home Curtain. In 1982 she joined Spectrum Fabrics as senior vice president, creative director, and in 1984 became company president.

When Covington Industries bought Spectrum, Hoyne remained with the business as president. She retired in 2001.

“I had seven wonderful years with Marjorie; she was a friend” said Abby Gilmore, former president/owner of Covington. “She wasn't just talented, her timing was always on target, and she would tell you what she thought.”

For designer/consultant Jean Baudrand, “Marjorie was a special, wonderful lady, a good friend with a sense of humor. She loved new ideas and in business, knew when something would sell or not sell.”

Ronna Griest, designer/consultant and a former creative director of Covington remarked, “She was a classic, one of those people who did timeless design, just beautiful things. And she had an incredible eye. She was one of the last ones who was sensitive to design and kept true to her beliefs.”

“If she were a man she would have been called a gentleman of the industry,” said Roger Gilmartin, formerly executive vice president of Covington, and now ceo and principal of the company. “She was always willing to share her vast knowledge of design and showed products as though she were showing off her children. And she was most kind and helpful to me.”

Longtime decorative fabrics designer Margarita Silva Cushing noted, “Marjorie always projected a positive and optimistic outlook toward design that made it easy to create collections with her at Spectrum. I will always remember the wonderful sense of humor that was fundamentally Marjorie and one reason that she was great to work with — a working partnership and a real friendship.”

Hoyne was a recognized design leader in the home furnishings community. Early in her career she was named one of the top corporate women in America. In 1997 she was the recipient of the Marvin Rosenberg “Citizen of the Industry” award at the Home Fashion Products Association HomeTex Design Awards.

Survivors include her two sisters, a brother-in-law and many nieces and nephews.