Carol Margolin was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1937 to Benjamin Neiman and Lillian Heifetz.
As standards changed for taking a husband's name in marriage, Carol Heifetz Neiman's name changed from Carol Margolin, to Carol Neiman-Margolin until her divorce in 1980; then to Carol Neiman, and finally adopting the matrilineal Carol Heifetz Neiman.