Margot Collins built her life around an impenetrable resilience and commitment to deeply loving others. She left an inspiring legacy that is perhaps most resonant with her beloved daughter. She also has a unique story in how she thoughtfully designated the National MS Society as a beneficiary.
Born an only child to a Jewish family in Frankfurt, Germany, Margot escaped Nazi influence with her parents in 1938 for the promise of life in America. Despite not speaking a word of English, the expanse of cultural adjustments ahead and her unique differences in physical appearance, she harnessed an incredible resolve to set her sights on becoming an American citizen, and after doing so, also later graduated from NYU’s Stern School of Business. After marrying, she settled in Riverdale, New York, where she lovingly raised her family.
Years later, when her adult daughter faced an onslaught of debilitating and frightening health concerns, Margot remained at her side — literally and figuratively. Her daughter endured a year of doubled eyesight due to a palsied optic nerve, and a surging feeling of pain throughout her limbs which was so debilitating, it was hard to keep food down. “In the year I was thought to have MS, whenever I discovered a type of food I could tolerate, my mother would cook and bring it to me, or have things delivered. She was so patient.”
Margot ensured her daughter never felt alone and showered her with optimism for the future. She helped her navigate through a slew of doctor’s appointments and remained positive throughout the unpredictability and frustration of it all. Finally, a visit to a neuro-ophthalmologist revealed that her daughter may have MS. And as mysteriously as her symptoms surfaced, they soon faded away. “The whole impetus about my mom being drawn to the Society is when I was young, I had the onset of all these symptoms quickly. It was a long process and at the end of the saga, the way my team of doctors left it was that if I ever had another recurrence, they would call it MS.” Overwhelmed with gratitude at the improvement of her daughter’s health, Margot began making modest contributions to the Society in support of people living with MS.
After a robust and colorful life, Margot passed away in August 2022, two months shy of her 96th birthday. “We were shoulder-to-shoulder for almost sixteen years,” her daughter says. Until her passing, they traveled the world alongside one another, making incredible memories and savoring life together. Margot’s daughter recalls her zest for life and deep-rooted family values. “A lot of what my mother instilled in me was to try to do my best and to do things that are good for me… to be proactive about my health. It made me appreciate every single day… at the end of the day, what do you leave behind but your name? To have an unimpeachable character and very fine reputation is a wonderful thing.”
Caretakers are an incredibly special population of the MS community. We are grateful for the enduring legacy and generosity of Margot Collins, and the countless others who elect to support the Society’s efforts through planned gifts.
If you are interested in learning more about planning giving, please reach out to Rachel Cervoni at giftplanning@nmss.org