Obituary

Jay l. Margolis, jr., 67,died on august 13, 2016, surrounded by his loving family. Jay is survived by his wife of nearly 39 years, julie, and their four children, jim margolis of lander, wy; kelly margolis dagger and son-in-law jacob dagger, of raleigh, nc; david margolis of raleigh, nc; and jessica margolis of brookline, ma. He is also survived by his sister susan margolis of potomac, md; his mother-in-law moira flanagan of rutland, vt; his beloved dogs trolley and minnie; his grand-dogs aston and riley; and many extended family members and dear friends.

Jay was the son of jay louis margolis, sr. And harriett white margolis. A charleston native, jay attended kanawha city elementary and horace mann junior high, before graduating from the cranbrook school in bloomfield hills, mi. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in education from the university of pennsylvania. Jay became a schoolteacher in 1972 in waterville valley, nh. He married julie in 1977 in rutland, vt. Jay moved back to charleston with julie in 1979, and lived the rest of his life there. He joined the family business at embees department store before starting his 35-year career as a financial advisor in 1981 with bache securities, which eventually became wells fargo. He was a lifelong member of temple israel.

Jay loved life, and above all, he loved his family. He was a wonderful husband, father, brother, son, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend. He did something fun every day, even after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and inspired others to do the same. He loved tennis, golf, swimming, triathlons, skiing, whitewater rafting, and the outdoors. He ran in the first new york city marathon in 1970, and completed several triathlons in his sixties. He also loved gardening, cooking, reading non-fiction, playing guitar, and singing john denver and james taylor songs. He cheered on his children at countless sporting events. In 1974, he and his sister susan did a three-month national outdoor leadership school (nols) course. Nols sparked jay’s lifelong love of the outdoors. He spent 20 summers as a camper and a counselor at camp greylock in western massachusetts. In recent years, jay backpacked with julie, rock climbed with jim, ran with kelly, backpacked with jacob, played golf with david, and played tennis with jessica. Jay was particularly proud of his 2013 climb of the grand teton with jim. He was an engaging storyteller. One of his best was a yarn he told to his children about a catfish from the kanawha river that stole his watch.

Jay cared for others first. He took the struggles of others upon himself personally, but refused to think negatively. He offered love and support to friends and strangers, people and animals alike. Since 2009, he adopted four rescued greyhounds, ceecee, beauty, trolley, and minnie. He served as the treasurer of the greyhound health initiative. He was also a mentor in the education elevators program at chamberlain elementary.

Jay lived his life with an open mind and an open heart. He was a gentle and generous spirit with a fun sense of humor and contagious laugh. He expressed much gratitude for his life, for the care he received from physicians and nurses, and to his family and friends who supported him. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to: education elevators, 500 lee street east, charleston, wv 25301; the greyhound health initiative, p.O. Box 396, avon, oh 44011; nols annual fund, 284 lincoln st., lander, wy 82520; or the sol goldman pancreatic cancer research center at johns hopkins: ralph h. Hruban, m.D., johns hopkins medical institutions, 600 n. Wolfe street, carnegie 417, baltimore, md 21287.

We will have a visitation from 3 – 5 pm on saturday, august 20 at barlow bonsall funeral home. A service in celebration of jay’s life will be held at 11 am at temple israel on sunday, august 21 with a brunch reception to follow.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.Barlowbonsall.Com.