How long have you been at MBD? Since well before the beginning. I started ElderLaw Services in 1987. It morphed into Margolis & Cohen (it turned out having an untraditional name for a law firm wasn’t the best business decision), Margolis & Associates, Margolis & Bloom, and now Margolis Bloom & D’Agostino (and we’re thriving like never before – the power of three). So, 36 years – hard to believe.
If you weren’t an attorney, what would you do instead? A journalist, politician, urban planner, real estate developer or architect. I’ve either done or studied all of these, except for real estate development. My first job out of college was as a reporter for a newspaper in Mississippi. In my youth, I worked on various congressional and senatorial campaigns and, more recently, I ran for Governor’s Council. I majored in urban studies in college and for a while thought I’d become an architect or urban planner. To some extent, I’m moving back to my original career these days, doing a lot of writing about estate and elder law planning and the fate of the country when the baby boomers start getting really old.
Who was the most influential person in your life? My dad. He was a freelance journalist and political activist. He also wrote children’s books, both stories and poetry. He was incredibly well-read, kind and a great storyteller, much loved by all his friends, family and the many young people he mentored. He died too young (younger than I am now). But we’ve been trying to carry on his legacy by offering an annual award to a young journalist. It includes a financial stipend and a one-month residency at the Blue Mountain Center, a writer and artist’s retreat in the Adirondacks where both my parents have spent time. You can read more about it here: www.margolisaward.org.
On any given Saturday, where can we find you and what would you be doing? The first thing I do almost every Saturday is to read The New York Times cover to cover while sipping my morning coffee, one of my greatest pleasures. Then, I could be doing a lot of things, biking, hanging out with family and friends, or going for a hike. We sold our house last year, so I no longer have to do any housework.
Favorite food to eat or make or both? That’s hard. I might say risotto. It’s amazing how rice transforms into a creamy, tasty dish.
Best place you have traveled, and/or dream destination? This is also hard. I’ve done a lot of traveling and yet there are so many places to go. The places highest on my list right now are southern Latin America, either Argentina or Chile, India and Africa. Both Argentina and Chile, and much of Latin America, are undergoing political changes that would be interesting to observe. India is now the most populous country in the world and has incredible history. I’ve been to West Africa decades ago and would like to visit East Africa, especially Kenya and Tanzania. In terms of population, Africa is the youngest continent and has the most room for development. What happens in Africa will have a huge effect on the future of the world.
