Obituaries 08-10-2023

William “Bill” Owens

He had a special fondness for Beacon Hill

It is with great sadness that the neighbors and friends of William “Bill” Owens announce his passing on April 8, 2023 at the age of 87 years.

After graduating Harvard and a successful career in law, Bill pursued his passion for photographing early architectural and historical sites. He enjoyed coaching youth baseball for many years. Bill will be lovingly remembered for his love of reading and his infinite knowledge of world history. He had a special fondness for Beacon Hill.

A private memorial service was held in Annie Fields Garden.”

Nell Margolis Borgeson

1945-2023

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

Nell and her cherished first husband, Harvey Margolis, settled at 50 Pinckney St. 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 70s, wrote and directed a short film, which 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 on Sunday, Aug. 27, at the King’s Chapel Parish House at 64 Beacon St., with a service at 2 p.m. in the “Little Chapel,” followed by a reception at the King’s Chapel Parish House and Garden, also located at 64 Beacon St.

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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.