Cindy Margolis and the Jerry’s Deli ‘Guy’ Divorce
“Guy” is now the ex-husband of Cindy Margolis and the son of the owner of Jerry’s Famous Deli, Ike Starkman.
Ike, was married to my very own cousin Carolyn who was a good 10 years younger than him, but has recently passed away. When Ike asked my cousin Carolyn to marry him, his family came from Israel to check out the wife-to-be. A great deal of their time was spent at our home where we entertained them in a grand fashion.
You see, my mother, Carolyn’s favorite Aunt, and the woman she liked to model herself after in style and looks, (and who she shared her deepest secrets with) and my father were considered the head of the family.
When Ike first came to the USA Carolyn worked hard to support both Ike and herself, as they were very poor. Carolyn’s father Charlie loaned both of them a great deal of money to get started with their business. As the business grew, unfortunately for my cousin, Ike’s ego grew along with it and Carolyn was shoved out of the picture.
For a woman like my cousin who was physically beautiful, with a warm, outgoing personality, it was a crushing blow, and for all of us quite heartbreaking to have seen her so easily shoved aside in such a callous way.
Ike would call her names, like “stupid, and c…t” in front of people at large parties. I know, I was at some of these events. Funny how quickly people forget where they come from and who helped them up. Sadly, my cousin became extremely lonely and turned to alcohol. She died completely alone in a hospital.
I heard that at her funeral Ike gave a speech and shed crocodile tears while speaking of how much he loved her. Huh??? Did I miss something here?
The next thing I heard was how everyone was going through her expensive clothes and jewelry deciding who was getting what.
Guy, the oldest son of Ike married Cindy Margolis, once known as the most downloaded woman on the internet and the woman on Playboy’s July 2008 cover. They have recently divorced.
Cindy seems to be a much stronger woman than my cousin was. She made a name for herself before she came into the Starkman family, and no doubt will survive without them. Hurray for her! If only my cousin Carolyn had been that kind of woman. Hats off to you Cindy!
As a side note, my parents, who had been so generous with their time, home, hospitality and so forth, in entertaining Ike’s family, were laughing hysterically when I told them this one story which I will share with all of you.
Years later, when I was an adult and Jerry’s Famous Deli was a big success, my girlfriend and I went in to get a sandwich. I introduced her to Ike. He sat with us for about a minute. When we went to pay our check we were surprised to see that even though he was right there at the cash register, he didn’t have the courtesy or class to pick up a $10 tab.
Goes to show, just because you have money doesn’t mean you have class!
~~Jackie Carlyle
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I am so sad to hear about Carolyn. We were at Betty Ford together in 1996 and she was my favorite pal. I talked her into staying when she wanted to bolt the first day. She ultimately left but I had hopes that she would succeed in sobriety. She had a guy with her who was her best friend. Can’t remember his name. Last time I talked to her she had been diagnosed with breast cancer or something to that effect but they’d gotten it. She was a beautiful woman and I’ll always remember her.
Where was she when she died and why was she alone???
So sad.
Debra
Hi, Debra, thank you for your nice words about my cousin. She had such an outgoing, warm personality. It was sad to see her shoved aside. But then, I suppose it was well known that “others” had taken her place, if you know what I mean.
Besides my mother, Pauline, who she spoke to, yes, her best friend was Tim, I believe. I spoke to him a lot after she passed. He was a doll and I wish I could reach him now but we’ve lost touch. He was the only one who cared about her, sadly. He did stand by her side till the end.
Ike turned her own children against her as well. Tim had called Ike from the hospital to ask him to come see her, as she was dying, but from what I was told, Ike couldn’t be bothered.
Carolyn’s mother had lived in their home with them for years, but when Carolyn passed Ike threw her into some kind of home. They never got in touch with us to tell us where. They were always too busy to stay on the phone with us long enough to tell us where. After all, when you own a big “Restaurant” your sh…t
doesn’t stink, you know.
Ike forgets that while my father was living he owned more restaurants than Ike, more businesses, cars, boats, houses and had seen more of the world. They all tried to copy my father and mother. There was one difference, my father and mother were always “Gracious.” They never looked at this type of success as something to “use” to hurt people with.
Perhaps Ike Starkman could do something nice and send some “food” to starving children in Darfur in the name of my cousin Carolyn as a gesture of good will rather than buying another condo in Miami.
When I called “Guy” the other day I said, “It’s your cousin, Jackie.” He said, “Oh yeah, yeah, I’m busy opening a restaurant. What is it?” I thought to myself, “what a little piece of work this one is, lol. Wait till “real life” catches up with him and he has to slow down one day and take a look inside, hahaha, as we all do.
He’s going to find a bunch of corn beef there.
Thanks for writing,
Jackie Carlyle
[...] Little Guy Starkman from Jerry’s Deli got p.o.ed about me blogging about how cheap he and his father Ike are, heee heee heee. Why does that make me laugh so [...]
Jackie,
I first learned,only yesterday,about Carolyn after reading your article. I am
heartbroken.Carolyn was a good friend back in the days of our childrens
early school years. My son was friends with guy, my daughters were in
class with Jason. For seven years we shared everything mostly pertaining
to our kids and our feelings about everything. Carolyn was a beautiful person
on the outside but what was so remarkable was her beauty within. She was
so sensitive, generous, funny, and such a great mom. Ever present at every
school event, sporting event, and school party (many of them given by her
at her home) since she was always volunteering to do it all. I can remember
many parties, with so many kids, swimming in a pool with foaming bubbles
and the ever present family dog Bouvie running all around having the time of
his life too. I too had a Bouvier, so our lives were quite similarly hectic with
all the kids, and all the activities from ages 5 to 13. Our nightly phone calls
will always be cherished, Carolyn was so full of life its so difficult to hear of
the heartache that followed.
We lost touch as the kids moved on the junior and high school levels. I am
so sorry for that, but I am fortunate for the memories I will always cherish
and all the stories I clearly remember to this very day, too many to write.
Carolyn was a very unique and lovely human being, she’ll never be forgotton.
Janet
Thanks for the update, Jackie. God rest Carolyn’s soul.
Debra