Richard J. "Dick" Margolis was a masterful writer with a gift for winnowing complex issues to their core and giving them a human, heartfelt voice. He brought personal stories to the forefront, showing how abstract political and policy issues affect real people — and helping us get to know them. Using a combination of humor, eloquence, wit and logic, he attempted in his writing to move individuals and politicians to respond to the needs of those who are typically forgotten or overlooked.