Nell Margolis Borgeson

Nell Margolis Borgeson, born Ellen Lowenberg in Baltimore Maryland on May 25, 1945, died on Friday, July 28, 2023 at age 78 near her home in Boston, Massachusetts.

Nell and her cherished first husband, Harvey Margolis, settled at 50 Pinckney Street in Beacon Hill early in their marriage. Typical of the deep attachments to people, animals, and places that Nell formed throughout her life, Nell never left that address. Nell and Harvey brought three beloved daughters into their family while Nell practiced law, journalism, and communications consulting.

Harvey died after a long illness in 2000. After four dynamic years as a single mother, Nell met and married her beloved husband, Gregg Borgeson in 2005 - opening her family and home to three young stepchildren, each of whom she loved dearly.

In addition to helping Gregg build his business, Nell had a burning desire to become a film director and - in her late seventies - wrote and directed a short film that was selected for inclusion in 15 film festivals and won multiple awards.

Nell brought a positive and optimistic spirit to every day of her life and every person she encountered, which worked magically for her as she powered through and overcame the obstacles life placed before her. Her endless kindness and winning spirit radiated to all those who came into contact with her, even, and especially, in her last years when she refused to let cancer limit her embrace of life.

Nell is survived by her devoted husband, Gregg, her children Amelia (Josh) Haddad, Caroline (Eric) Pince, and Annabel (Troy Smith) Margolis; her stepchildren Audrey (Paul) van Duyn, August (Eric Spackman) Borgeson, and Kurt (Jaclyn) Borgeson; her grandchildren Aidan Margolis, Brock Smith, and Cameron Pince; her mother Miriam Lowenberg Black; and her brothers Robert Lowenberg and Jonathan Lowenberg. Nell had deep and loving relationships with her nieces and nephews, a host of intimate friends, and a very special tie to her golden retrievers, Dashiell and Indiana. Her beloved father Gordon Lowenberg preceded her, having died the same year as her first husband Harvey in 2000.

A celebration of Nell's remarkable life will be held in the coming weeks.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to an organization that was close to Nell's heart: Lyric Stage Company of Boston (https://lyricstage.my.salesforce-sites.com/donate/?dfId=a0n2E00000c6YF7QAM&), a local theater that played an important role in the family's life; or the International Institute of New England (https://iine.org/donate), an organization that helps immigrant refugees get settled and launched into productive lives in the Boston area.