Margaret Presutti Stillman

The youngest of four children, Margaret (Marg) was born on February 26, 1964 on Staten Island New York to Michael (deceased) and Mathilda Presutti (84). She is survived by her husband Phil of 25 years, two daughters Gabrielle and Madeleine, her mother, two sisters, Michelle and MaryEllen, brother Mike, three nephews and two nieces. She leaves an enduring legacy of many deep and abiding friendships and associations.

Marg grew up on Staten Island New York graduating high school from Saint Joseph's Hill Academy in 1982 where she was class president and editor of the student newspaper. Marg attended the State University of New York at Binghamton majoring in political science and receiving her bachelor’s degree in 1986.

In August 1986, Marg moved to South Florida to attend law school at Nova Southeastern University where she served as editor of Law Review graduating in 1989. It was there, during the first year, where she met Philip Stillman (Phil). The two young law students quickly became inseparable spending their time studying, cooking, beaching, laughing, loving and ultimately forging an intense lifelong relationship that continued for some 31 years, bringing two daughters to this world, and encompassing a marriage of 25 years, ending upon her passing with Phil by her side in their home.

Phil and Marg married at the historic Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island New York on May 2 1992 with the Honorable United States District Court Judge James C Paine of the Southern District of Florida performing the nuptial services. Marg had served as Judge Paine’s law clerk out of law school.

Professionally, Marg was among one the highest regarded legal voices in her community of jurists with the brilliant ability to articulate clear lines of argumentation with a timeless sense of reason. After a short span of years working with several commercial law firms, she returned to the federal judiciary to serve as an Elbow Career Law Clerk to Judge Paine, where she served until his retirement in 2007.

Above all of her virtuous passions was her love and dedication to family and friends, which she did not distinguish. A very humble and private person throughout her life, Marg’s only prideful indulgence was her two daughters Gabrielle (Gabby-20) and Madeleine (Maddy-18). Nothing made Marg happier than spending time with her family, traveling, preparing meals, dining, singing, taking long drives, laughing aloud or just being together.

Marg found both solace and unbridled excitement in picturesque Saratoga Springs New York where the family maintains a vacation home. Vacationing there since early childhood, Saratoga became a home away from home, enticing the Stillman’s with its rich American history, culture and her beloved father’s love for thoroughbred racing, a passion that she and Phil grafted and shared.

If there was a single attribute beside her unconditional love, her brilliance and her compassion, Marg was a warrior, in the purest sense of the word. She was always willing to step into battle as a self-determined advocate for some downtrodden cause, to right some unjust occurrence, help with a friend or family member’s dilemma always taking to the field with the tools of the most apt tactician. Unlike most fighters, Marg did not wage battle to win, but rather to enlighten; to express her positions in a fair manner with deference to her adversary who she rarely ever thought as malevolent but rather misguided.

Marg fought two physical battles within her own body, both spanning four years apiece; one battle she would decisively win, bringing two beautiful daughters into this world, and the second battle ultimately taking her life but not without a courageous contest.

Throughout her relentless fight against the most heinous of adversaries, Marg vowed to share every step of the way with her friends and family, giving them a front row seat and a backstage pass, to the final chapter of her earthly life. Never losing hope in her words, her journal speaks always of her appreciation for her “many blessings” despite the progressive ravages of cancer, the grim diagnoses and the many procedures and operations that finally dimmed the once brightest of lanterns. She exemplified how even through the greatest of despair, as life itself slips from us, we can find grace and be thankful.

Words cannot adequately describe who Marg was, the depth of her passions and the breadth of her love. She fought for her friends, she fought for her family she fought for her husband and finally she fought for her own life. Margaret Presutti-Stillman brought light to this world and made it better through the lives of those she touched, influenced and loved. She will not be forgotten; her deeds and love belong to the ages and will hence endure.