Margaret “Maggie” Rose Warshaw Brill

Margaret Warshaw Brill of Newton Highlands died April 13, 2022, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston following a stroke. She was with her family when she passed. She was born May 4, 1947, at Lawrence General Hospital to Thayer and Bernice (Kepner) Warshaw and grew up in Andover, MA. She leaves behind her grieving family: husband Nick; children Rachel (Jacob Pemberton), Jacob (Emma Huntington), and Charlotte; grandchildren Josephine Pemberton, Samuel Pemberton, James Pemberton, and Lucas Brill; sisters Elinor Davidson and Shirley Roshannah and their families; and cousins Beth Schuyler and Judy Weiner.

Margaret graduated from Abbott Academy, Radcliffe College of Harvard University, and the Boston University School of Law. Margaret began her career as an attorney representing tenants and other low income clients with Greater Boston Legal Services. She later became the head of the real estate practice group at Testa, Hurwitz and Thibeault. For the last part of her career, she was a member of MIT’s Office of General Counsel working on real estate and transactional matters. She was active in civic programs at Temple Shalom in Newton including, most recently, the synagogue’s resettlement program for Afghan refugees.  Margaret also sang in the Temple’s volunteer choir.

A lifelong lover of the music, arts, and theatre, Margaret enjoyed the Handel & Haydn Society, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Glimmerglass Festival. Margaret was learning to play the guitar and enjoyed playing for her grandchildren when they visited from California. An avid reader, she was the cofounder of a women’s book group now in its 30th year.

Margaret had a gift for bringing people together and for cherishing her many friendships, old and new. Margaret loved the family house in Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport, ME, and enjoyed sharing it with family and friends. She took special pleasure in long walks on the beach with her loved ones and dogs, and she and Nick called Goose Rocks “our happy place”.

Above all else, Margaret loved her family. She was the family captain, raising three wonderful children who are devoted to one another and their extended family. Her sly sense of humor, wonderful laugh, wise counsel, and love will be missed by family and friends. Her spirit of caring made the world a better place.

Funeral services will be on Tuesday April 19th at 11:00 AM, at Temple Shalom (175 Temple Street, West Newton, MA), followed by burial in Newton Cemetery. Following burial there will be a reception at Temple Shalom to celebrate Margaret’s life.

Donations: Temple Shalom Afghan Resettlement Program, 175 Temple Street, West Newton MA.