Margaret Lynn was born in Pennsylvania and spent her first five years splitting time between Harrisburg and New York City before her family moved to St. Augustine, FL. Their house was across from the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Margaret Lynn and her friends were often concerned that the gators might escape when they were playing outside.
Margaret Lynn grew up an only child and she credits her parents for giving her the confidence she would use throughout her long, successful career. A precocious young Margaret Lynn had an early interest in government and when other kids went to movies or the beach, Margaret Lynn enjoyed county commission meetings.
Though she initially thought a career in the foreign service sounded appealing, she quickly discovered that path didn’t suit her. At FSU, she majored in English and Spanish with a minor in Social Work then pursued a Master of Science in Education Administration. She met her husband, Tommy, who was born and raised in Tallahassee.
Her career in aging was quite by accident when at age 27, Margaret Lynn became the first Executive Director of the Senior Society Planning Council, now Elder Care Services, to oversee the newly established Meals on Wheels program. From there, her expertise on aging issues was honed by serving as the executive director of the Area Agency on Aging in the Big Bend area.
Along the way, Margaret Lynn has been recognized with several awards including Gerontologist of the Year, induction into the Florida Council on Aging Hall of Fame, and the Florida Medical Association’s Distinguished Public Service award. And just this fall, she was recognized by her high school alma mater who aptly described their classmate as “the most prominent and well-regarded expert on aging issues in the State of Florida.”
Margaret Lynn was appointed by then-Governor Bob Graham, as Florida’s State Director on Aging, whose priority was to advance aging issues in the State of Florida. She says her work on writing the geriatric curriculum for FSU’s College of Medicine “changed lives for older adults in ways they wouldn’t be otherwise.”
In 1989, Margaret Lynn founded Margaret Lynn Duggar & Associates, a consulting firm which allows her to continue her role as a trailblazer on aging, sharing her expertise with a wide range of agencies. Her firm is so successful that Margaret Lynn has no plans to retire. She says her compelling work is her secret to positive aging and tends to work 70-hour weeks. However, this self-professed workaholic emphasizes the importance of social engagement and nurturing friendships.
Margaret Lynn balances work life with fun. At least once a week, she has dinner with friends. “Staying socially engaged is critical,” she says. Margaret Lynn has many great friends from grade school to college, from interns to colleagues.
Alyce Lee Stansbury, a friend and colleague shares “In addition to her many professional accomplishments, Margaret Lynn is a caring, steadfast friend and mentor to me and so many others. Margaret Lynn is very generous with her time, always willing to listen, share her thoughts, and offer advice. She and her husband, Tommy, nurtured lifelong relationships that continue as the bedrock of her life. Counting Margaret Lynn as a friend is truly a treasure.”
When accepting an award recently at her high school alma mater, she mentioned a survey of 95-year olds who were asked what they’d do differently if given the chance? The answers were – take more risks, reflect more, and do more that would last beyond their lifetime.” Margaret Lynn is well ahead of the game.
