Joseph S. Bekelja 1937-2019

Former Margolis Edelstein partner Joseph S. Bekelja passed away on May 29, 2019 after a long battle with cancer. This is a sad day for anyone who knew Joe.

Joe arrived at our firm in 1974, coming from house counsel positions at Nationwide and at Yellow Cab. At ME, he handled WC cases and eventually became the dean of WC practitioners, not just at ME, but in all of eastern PA, a status acknowledged by the Bar Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Joe was Notre Dame undergraduate and Georgetown Law, with Honors, he held Martindale-Hubbel’s highest AV rating for professional ability and ethical standards, and he mentored countless lawyers.

What we will remember most about Joe is that he was a true gentleman, quick with a smile and a joke, someone who made you feel better about yourself. Joe was a good friend to everyone who had the pleasure to work with him and meet him over the years and he will be missed by everyone at Margolis Edelstein.