Van Day Truex

Truex died of a heart attack in his New York apartment April 24, 1979. He was preceded in death by all close family members except his long time sponsor, his aunt Leta Day Nicol. His ashes were buried in Provence at Les Quatre Sources, a home designed by Truex for Rory Cameron.

World War II forced his return to New York in 1939. The New York School of Applied and Fine Arts (1909–1936) — formerly the New York School of Art (1898–1909) — had been renamed Parsons School of Design 1936–2005, after its late co-founder, and Van Day Truex was named president. He continued his painting and presented some one-man shows. His work as designer for Grace Moore, the opera soprano, with whom he established a close friendship, mentioned in her autobiography. In 1951 Van Day Truex was lauded by France as a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor (Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur). The following year, however, a disagreement with the board of the Parson School led to his demotion to consultant. His next appointment was as artist-in-residence at the American Academy in Rome. Returning to New York in 1955, he was chosen by Walter Hoving, the new president of Tiffany & Co., as the director of design for the company. Meanwhile, he continued his favorite enterprise in the restoration or redecoration of homes in New York and Provence, his and others. In 1978, he returned from France at the insistence of Hoving to serve as vice-president of Tiffany's.

Upon graduation in 1926, he joined the faculty and eventually was appointed director in Paris. In that position, he was drawn into the international set as decorator and friend and became a friend of Elsie de Wolfe. The Paris branch later evolved into Parsons Paris (autumn 2013).

After a year at the Wisconsin State Normal School in Oshkosh, Van was accepted at the New York School of Fine and Applied Art in 1923, whose president, Frank Alvah Parsons, soon became his mentor. In 1925, he was awarded a scholarship to the school's Paris branch, the Paris Ateliers (established 1921). France was to be his second home for the rest of his life.

Van Day Truex (March 15, 1904 – April 24, 1979) was an American interior designer, professor of design, and painter and a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor (Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur).