David Margolis

David Israel Margolis (January 24, 1930 – December 13, 2008) was an American industrialist who served as president and chairman of Colt Industries, who was a confidant of former Mayor of New York City Ed Koch.

Margolis was born on January 24, 1930. He became the assistant treasurer at Raytheon and treasurer of International Telephone & Telegraph (ITT). Margolis met Harold Geneen at a Boston company in the 1950s and later followed him to ITT. In 1979, his wife was named official greeter of New York City—officially the vice chairman of the City Commission for Distinguished Guests—the first woman to hold the honorary post which paid a salary of $1 per year.

A 1980 profile in The New York Times called Margolis Koch's right-hand man, quoting Koch who called him one of his "closest friends and advisors". Though Margolis played down his relationship with the mayor, he was described as playing the behind-the-scenes role as the mayor's unofficial labor expert during the 1980 New York City transit strike, in which subway workers were on picket lines for 11 days. Koch included Margolis in City Hall strategy sessions and consulted with him on budget, economic development and labor issues.

Margolis, a resident of Manhattan died at age 78 on December 13, 2008 due to cardiac arrest. He is survived by Brian Margolis, Robert Margolis, Nancy King and seven grandchildren: Maximilian, Harry, Sophie, Delphine, Porter, Beatrice, and Gilberto.