26 | JULY 9 • 2020 

business SPOTlight

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here’s to

B I R M I N G H A M

D

etroit had a lot to cheer about in 
1984. The Tigers won the World 
Series, defeating the San Diego 
Padres, 4 games to 1. And a rising TV 
news star — Sherry Margolis — came to 
town.
Margolis moved to Detroit that year 
from her hometown of Buffalo, New 
York. With her polished, professional 

presence and warm, welcoming smile, 
she has been a beloved fixture on 
the local evening news at WJBK-TV 
(Channel 2) ever since. 
“It’
s been my second home,” she said. 
“I will cherish every moment and every 
memory.”
Sherry has anchored the station’
s 
nightly newscasts for the last 35 years, 
most recently on weekdays at 11 a.m. 
and 5:30 p.m. Her work earned her 
seven Emmy awards, two Edward R. 
Murrow awards and countless other 
honors. Last year, Margolis was inducted 
into the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of 
Fame.
On June 24, she announced her retire-
ment; she signed off during an emotion-
al final broadcast June 30. 
“I want to thank all of you for allow-
ing me into your homes each day,” 
Margolis said, her eyes welling up with 
tears. “It has been an honor and a privi-
lege, and I don’
t take that lightly. I thank 
you from the bottom of my heart.”
Because of COVID-19 and the need 
for social distancing, fellow anchors 
Huel Perkins, Monica Gayle and Roop 
Raj were not physically there for the 
sendoff. Most of the on-air staff, includ-
ing Sherry, have been broadcasting 

A Fond Farewell

Sherry Margolis signs off 

after 35 years at 

WJBK-TV (Channel 2).

ROBIN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ABOVE: Sherry’
s family: her late husband, Jeff, 
Alex, Eden, Jordan and Sherry.

COURTESY OF SHERRY MARGOLIS

Gerald Acker was named into the Michigan 
Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame Class of 2020. 
This award and honor recognizes attorneys 
with at least 30 years of experience who have 
not only been successful in the courtroom but 
also in their respective communities. Acker 
said, “It’
s an honor to have been selected by Michigan 
Lawyers Weekly to their Hall of Fame. Fighting for justice 
has been the calling of my life, whether in the courtroom 
or in the political world. I’
m thrilled to have been chosen 
with so many others who have had my respect and admi-
ration over the years. I hope that all of us will continue that 
fight during these turbulent times.” The Michigan Lawyers 
Weekly induction lunch will be held Oct. 9 at the Detroit 
Marriott in Troy, Michigan.

Aubrey Macfarlane has been named executive vice president 
and chief operating officer of JVS Human Services. Macfarlane 
will oversee business operations of the Southfield-based non-
profit, which aims to enhance the lives of job seekers, people 
with disabilities and seniors in Metro Detroit.

When Marilyn Kohen of West Bloomfield was 10, she bought 
her first sewing machine. When COVID-19 began, she saw a 
request for face mask seamstresses. She has made more than 
400 masks thanks to JoAnn Fabrics curbside pick-up and some 
friends for their fabric donations. She is the daughter of Ethel 
Shapiro.

Dayna Frenkel has been recognized in the 2020 edition of the 
WTR300 (World Trade Review) as one of the world’
s top-rank-
ing corporate trademark professionals. Born and raised in Oak 
Park, she now works in the Legal Department at Under Armour 
Headquarters in Baltimore, Md., as associate counsel for trade-
marks.

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