In 1939 Margot, her brother Howard and her parents fled the Nazi’s. Her parents were taken by the Nazi’s in 1940. At that time, Margot was sent to a Jewish Children’s home in France. At 13 years old, Margot led ten children across the border to Switzerland and spent three years with friends of the family in Zurich. A documentary film “Journey to Justice” was produced by the family and tells the story of the Triest family.
Margot came to the United States in 1946 to live with an Uncle in Detroit. On her second week in the states, she met Warren J. Coville on a blind date and they were married in April 1948. They adopted three daughters. Margot volunteered at Children’s Hospital for over 20 years, three days a week, eight hours a day. Margot and Warren started the I HAVE A DREAM FOUNDATION DETROIT and supported 78 inner city 5th graders through high school, 35 of which went on to college. They have supported the Coville Apartments for Jewish seniors since 1981.
After moving to their home on Bird Key in Sarasota in 1994, Margot was involved with Jewish Family and Children’s Services, The Jewish Federation and Aviva Jewish Home for Senior Living. Margot was active in Ringling College, Ringling Museum, Selby Gardens and the Asolo Rep “adopting” many student actors she kept in touch with to this day.
Margot had a great love for glass and a sense of design and color. Her glass collection can be seen in the Kotler-Coville Pavilion at the Ringling Museum.
The last three years, she and Warren resided at Plymouth Harbor. Margot is survived by her husband Warren, daughters Lynn (Westbrook CT), Betsy (Lutz FL), Claudia (Sarasota) grandson Gabriel Curtidor (wife Liz), granddaughter Ashley Curtidor and great-granddaughter Sofia.
Donations in Memory of Margot E. Coville
700 John Ringling Blvd 25C Sarasota, FL 34236 941-361-7387:
The Florida Holocaust Museum 55 5th Street South, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 727-820-0100
https://www.flholocaustmuseum.org/
or:
Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus
28123 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334-3738 248-553-2400
https://www.holocaustcenter.org/
