On Tuesday, August 31, DigitasLBi Boston held a 30th anniversary celebration for Margaret Spurrell. The party was a sea of ‘Margaret Strong’ shirts with colleagues from every era of the agency sharing stories, smiles, and hugs for our dear friend.
In a rare honor and testament to Margaret’s outstanding character, the office of the Governor of Massachusetts officially proclaimed September 8, 2016 as Margaret Spurrell Day. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh also issued a certificate of recognition honoring her 30 years of service.
Below is this week’s Tony’s Tuesday Reader, which pays tribute to Margaret:
Folks,
It’s an understatement to say that a lot has changed in the last thirty years.
In 1986 Ronald Regan was our President, there was no World Wide Web (let alone cell phones), the Red Sox were in the world series, and Wham! was one of the top musical acts.
Luckily for us, some things haven’t changed.
On September 8, 1986, Margaret Spurrell joined our agency in Boston, which at the time was known as Eastern Exclusives. Today I’m honored to celebrate Margaret’s 30th anniversary at DigitasLBi with a party in the Boston office.
As an Administrative Assistant, Margaret has supported hundreds of people throughout her years at the agency. She’s touched many lives with her warmth, patience, and grace—always asking after people’s loved ones, remembering every personal and professional milestone. A 1993 “Heart of the Company”, she’s known and supported leaders who started their careers at Digitas and who now run companies around the globe. Her leadership through kindness is unmatched.
Tributes to Margaret from colleagues (current and former) have been pouring in. Here are just a few:
There are not many people out there as wonderful as Margaret. She had an incredible gift for celebrating your successes with such sincere pride and love. Whether it was a work anniversary, promotion or a personal life event, she was always there to offer a kind word. In such a large company with so much change, it was comforting to have someone like Margaret who cared so genuinely about each person she met.
Every day, every moment — the look in the eye, the warm greeting, the hello. Didn’t matter what office you were from, what role you played, what title you had — the same warm greeting.
On my first day 13 years ago I got off the train at the Prudential stop and had no idea how to actually find the office. While I was frantically looking for a sign in the subway, Margaret’s mom-radar caused her to turn to me and say ‘I bet you’re going to Digitas’. She walked me to the office and talked to me about Digitas. I have been blessed to call her my friend ever since.
Margaret is by far the most patient, most polite & most authentically nice person I’ve ever met. Beginning back in the BSH/Atlantic Ave days she would listen knowingly, kindly nod and then immediately offer her help & guidance.
My memory is flawed, but somehow I remember Margaret being on almost every account I was on. Starting with IBM in ’96, American Century and P&G (There were a couple of accounts I know where I missed her — XM, AmEx, Gillette…) Now I wonder — why was I so lucky? It’s like someone knew I was horribly disorganized and needed someone kind and generous to help me get my act together.
DigitasLBi has been fortunate to have a colleague, mentor and friend in Margaret for 30 years. Today we raise a glass and say thank you. As she leaves our hallways, she moves into the care of her family as she faces a major health challenge. We ask for your good energy, peaceful wishes, thoughts and prayers, or whatever you think feels right for someone so good, so kind and so worthy of our support.