Margaret Longinotti Bales, a longtime Orlando resident known for her sense of humor, devotion to family, and love of cats, politics, and gardening, died May 19. She was 70. Her daughter and only child, Erin Zwigart, was at her side.

Margaret had moved last year to Baptist Terrace, a living facility for seniors. She died at Orlando Regional Medical Center from complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Margaret was born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1950. Her parents were Elizabeth “Betty” and James Longinotti. As a pre-teen, her family moved to Macon, Georgia, where she graduated from high school at Stratford Academy in 1968. 

In 1972, Margaret graduated from Mercer University in Macon with a bachelor’s degree in library science. Later she worked at Florida State University’s School of Library and Information Studies in Tallahassee. She moved to Orlando in the early 1980s and built a small business as a transcriptionist and proofreader for court reporters throughout the Southeast.

A staunch Democrat, Margaret relished discussing politics and would readily cite from memory an array of facts and policy views. One of her favorite memories was a trip to Atlanta in 1972 to hear the Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Senator George McGovern, speak at a rally. Afterward, she shook his hand and joked she would never wash it.

Family and friends recalled Margaret and her engaging personality. “Everyone loved Mom,” said Erin, who along with Margaret’s two sisters helped her in a variety of ways during a long decline in health. "She was smart as a whip, could remember every last detail when telling a story, and was absolutely hilarious. She had a solid group of friends and was loyal until the end.”

A friend of 30 years, Joy Richardson, said: “Margaret was just the best person I've ever known. I think her best quality was that she was a great listener. No matter the time of day, she always would listen to my problems. And she would always be there for me, no matter what. She was loyal and kind and loved people. She was the one friend I was supposed to have when I die. I miss her so much.”

Sara Howard, a classmate at Mercer and sorority sister in Alpha Delta Pi, said: “Margaret was well-liked by all. Smart and funny, she cracked us up! And, through Facebook, I realized we were politically alike. I know you saw not only her funny remarks but her passion, too.”

Other friends described Margaret as loyal, quick-witted with a dry sense of humor, curious, and an animal lover.

Over the decades, Margaret had more cats than her family and friends could remember, including the one she had when she died, named Joy. If someone asked her about some of her small pleasures in life, she might say Olive Garden’s salad and breadsticks, and a good movie and popcorn.

Besides her daughter, Margaret is survived by sisters Betsy Carson of Atlanta and Sarah Rosenthal of West Chester, Pennsylvania; two grandchildren, Katie and Chloe Zwigart of Smyrna, Georgia; and son-in-law, Brad Zwigart, also of Smyrna.

Plans for a memorial service during the summer aren’t yet final but will be shared when they are.