Dr. Simeon G. "Moan" Margolis Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Simeon G. “Moan” Margolis, a physician and educator, died at Roland Park Place on May 16 surrounded by family. He was 91. Born March 29, 1931 to immigrant parents of humble means in Johnstown, Pa., Margolis became a leading endocrinologist and award-winning professor. He championed Johns Hopkins University, where he received bachelors, medical and doctoral degrees between 1953 and 1964. Except for a two-year stint at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Dr. Margolis devoted his more than 50-year career to Hopkins. Other universities attempted to lure him away but he remained loyal to Hopkins. The professor emeritus of medicine and biological chemistry at the JH School of Medicine enjoyed working so much he never officially retired. Receiving a full scholarship to Hopkins, Dr. Margolis balanced premed classes with playing on the Blue Jays’ basketball and baseball teams. The 5-foot 10-inch guard scored 44 points in a game against Randolph-Macon College before the 3-point or jump shot. That 1953 performance set the JHU single-game scoring record, which Dr. Margolis still holds today. For his accomplishments he was inducted into the Hopkins Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. He graduated from Hopkins in 1953 and medical school in 1957, choosing to remain at JHH to serve as an intern, resident and chief resident. Four years after receiving his doctorate in biochemistry in 1964, Dr. Margolis became director of the division of endocrinology and metabolism, where he performed cholesterol research and treated patients. He led the division until 1981 and again from 1984 to 1990. His medical practice focused on the management of diabetes and the prevention of coronary heart disease. He taught medical students and physicians alike about controlling serum lipids and lipoproteins. Simeon met his wife, Mary Alice “Bebe” Kahl at a party in eighth grade in their hometown of Johnstown. The high school sweethearts wed after his first year in medical school. She worked for over 40 years as a JHH budget administrator and secretary. The couple lived in the Cedarcroft area, where they raised three daughters. Dr. Margolis’ life was never the same when Bebe died in 2011 after nearly 57 years of marriage. People called him Moan as a shorter form of his name but Dr. Margolis joked that he earned his nickname for always complaining. He was known for his keen intelligence, quick wit and dry humor. Dr. Margolis transitioned into an administrative role with the medical school in 1984. He was appointed associate dean for academic affairs for six years and then associate dean for faculty affairs until 1992. He served as a consultant to various federal advisory committees. Always a teacher and lover of the written word, Dr. Margolis became interested in providing accurate medical information to the general public. For more than 20 years he served as the editor of Health After 50, a JHU medical newsletter. He also wrote a weekly medical column for the Baltimore Sun from 1987 to 1997 and columns for Yahoo! Health for several years. He edited several books and wrote multiple booklets on various medical problems. Dr. Margolis was honored in 2016 by a former medical student with the creation of a professorship in his name, The Charles C. Homcy and Simeon Margolis professorship at the JHU School of Medicine. Dr. Margolis was the son of the late Edward C. and Bella (Kantor) Margolis, a watch repairman and homemaker respectively. He lived in Johnstown until moving to Baltimore for college. He was preceded in death by his brother Gustave S. Margolis and sister Claudia F. Gilbert. He is survived by three daughters, Amy Elizabeth Hardin of Baltimore, Karen M. Griswold of Wellesley, Mass., and Susan Margolis of Cary, N.C.; and six grandchildren. A celebration of his life is planned at a later date. A viewing will be held May 19 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 pm at Mitchell-Wiedefeld Funeral Home, 6500 York Road, Baltimore. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. Dr. Margolis didn’t like to tell people how to spend their money.

Dr. Simeon G. "Moan" Margolis

March 29, 1931 - May 16, 2022