2026 Theresa Award Recipient: Harry S. Margolis
This past May, the Theresa Foundation was proud to honor Harry S. Margolis as the 2026 recipient of the NAELA Theresa Award, recognizing his decades of leadership, advocacy, and service to seniors, individuals with special needs, and their families.
Presented in partnership with the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the Theresa Award recognizes a NAELA member whose work demonstrates an exceptional commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable populations. Each recipient also has the opportunity to direct a charitable grant, extending the spirit and impact of the award to an organization meaningful to them.
A Career Dedicated to Helping Families
Harry Margolis has spent nearly four decades helping individuals and families navigate the complex legal and financial issues that can accompany aging, disability, incapacity, and long-term care.
Since founding ElderLawServices in 1987, the predecessor to Margolis Bloom & D’Agostino in Wellesley, Massachusetts, Harry has guided thousands of families through these challenges. His approach has consistently centered on practical solutions that preserve dignity, protect access to care, and provide greater stability for individuals and their loved ones.
Harry entered the profession when elder law itself was still emerging as a distinct field. His early exposure to Medicaid planning revealed both a significant need among families and the absence of an established legal framework to address it. Through mentorship, initiative, and years of experience, he helped build a practice in an area of law that has since become essential to families across the country.
Helping Shape the Elder Law Community
Harry’s influence extends far beyond his own practice. In 1992, he became the founding president of the Massachusetts Chapter of NAELA, helping establish a professional community where elder law attorneys could collaborate, learn from one another, and better serve their clients.
For three decades, Harry also served as editor of The ElderLaw Report, sharing his knowledge and perspective with attorneys nationwide and helping shape conversations surrounding elder law practice.
His many professional distinctions include being named a Fellow of both NAELA and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He has also been recognized by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America for his work in Elder Law and Trusts and Estates.
Extending the Impact of the Theresa Award
A special part of the Theresa Award is the opportunity for each recipient to select a charitable organization to receive a grant from the Theresa Foundation.
Harry chose So They Can, an organization with which he developed a personal connection after meeting one of its board members during a cycling trip in Italy. The organization works with communities in Kenya and Tanzania to help provide children with access to education and opportunities for a brighter future.
His selection reflects the spirit at the heart of the Theresa Award: using individual achievement as an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.
Respecting the Individual
Throughout the many changes Harry has witnessed during his career, one principle has remained central to his work: respect for the individual.
People with disabilities are living longer and fuller lives, supported by stronger networks of family, professionals, and community resources. Increased longevity has also brought new complexities to long-term planning and administration.
Through it all, Harry has emphasized the importance of preserving each client’s autonomy and voice. Even when diminished capacity creates additional challenges, thoughtful planning can help ensure that the individual remains at the center of the decisions being made on their behalf.
Celebrating a Lasting Impact
The Theresa Foundation was honored to recognize Harry S. Margolis with the 2026 NAELA Theresa Award this past May.
His career reflects the qualities the Theresa Award was created to celebrate compassion, leadership, service, and a lasting commitment to improving the lives of others.
We congratulate Harry once again on this well-deserved recognition and thank him for the impact he has made on families, fellow professionals, and the broader elder law and special needs communities.
CLICK HERE to make a Gift of Love donation in honor of Harry S. Margolis.
