DONALD M. SOFFER, VISIONARY DEVELOPER, PHILANTHROPIST, AND FAMILY PATRIARCH, PASSES AWAY AT 92

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AVENTURA, Fla., July 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Donald M. Soffer, the founder of Aventura, visionary behind some of South Florida's most iconic developments, patriarch, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, died peacefully on Sunday, July 20, 2025, surrounded by his loved ones at his home in Aventura, Florida. He was 92.

Born on September 20, 1932, in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, Don inherited a tireless work ethic forged in steel towns and family businesses, teaching him the values of discipline, determination, and loyalty. He attended Brandeis University on a football scholarship, graduating in 1955 with a degree in economics. Though he was presented with the opportunity to pursue a professional football career for the San Francisco 49ers, he chose instead to serve in the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division, today known as the "Screaming Eagles."  

Recognizing the need for thriving suburban communities to support veterans and their families, Don returned home to work alongside his father Harry, and quickly established himself as a young developer with vision. Their firm played a pivotal role in shaping Pittsburgh's postwar landscape, with early developments such as South Hills Village and One Oxford Centre helping to transform the region. Among his most notable early achievements was the Monroeville Mall—a 1.1 million-square-foot retail destination that became both a commercial success and a cultural landmark.

Don then shifted his gaze away from Pittsburgh commercial retail to South Florida, where he would vacation to golf, boat, and swim in the ocean. In the late 1960s, Don made the boldest move of his young career, leading the purchase of 785 acres of overlooked swampland north of Miami. Land his father Harry identified, where others saw only marsh, Don saw opportunity. He famously sketched his plans for the luxury community he would ultimately name Aventura on the back of a cocktail napkin. Through Turnberry Associates, the company he founded to realize that vision, Don master-planned a city centered around a golf course, positioning high-rise residences to overlook the greens and foster a sense of community.

The transformation from swampland to a planned city required multiple levels of government approval and Don met with heavy resistance from controlled growth advocates and environmental activists. Through a friend, Don had a five-minute meeting with then Florida Governor Claude Roy Kirk in Tallahassee. As Don often told the story, he convinced Governor Kirk that the idea to employ 4,000 people in a $100 million construction project – one that would create a modern city where 100,000 people would visit daily – was actually Kirk's own. That way, Kirk could pitch it to his cabinet and take full credit. That salesmanship sealed the deal. In 1969, Metro-Dade County approved Don's ambitious 23,900 condominium unit master plan.

Aventura became a hub for a growing community that evolved to include numerous luxury towers with almost 25,000 residences, private clubs, tennis courts, marinas, and vibrant entertainment and social spaces. Don's eye for marketing was as sharp as his eye for design; by hosting pro-celebrity tennis and golf tournaments that attracted numerous stars of the era, he generated buzz and built demand for luxury condos in a market many believed couldn't support them.

In 1983, Don secured the first Macy's outside of New York with the opening of the Aventura Mall, which is now recognized today as one of the most successful malls in the country. The mall's success was enhanced by Don's intuitive understanding of the zeitgeist and innovative approach to multilevel design, including a two-story parking facility that provided easier access to both levels.

Don lived and breathed the community he created. A passionate outdoorsman who loved fishing, boating, and camping with his children, he wanted his family – and everyone who called Aventura home – to feel connected to nature, to their neighbors, and to a sense of place. Today, Aventura stands as one of the most desirable and successful communities in South Florida and a lasting reflection of Don Soffer's vision, heart, and belief in what a place could become. When the city incorporated in 1995, it proudly adopted the name Don had chosen: Aventura.

Don's laughter, sharp wit, and distinctive style were as renowned as his business achievements. He had a gift for making everyone feel valued, especially his family, whom he considered his greatest achievement. Don is survived by his wife, Michelle King Soffer; sister, Rita; children, Marsha, Jackie, Jeffrey, Brooke, Rock, and Abigail; grandchildren, Izak, Max, Lauren, Harrison, Madison, Benjamin, Summer, Jacob, Logan, Katie, Oliver, April, and Charlotte; and great-granddaughter, Maya. He was predeceased by his daughter Jill. Don instilled in them the values he lived by: work hard, think long-term, show up, and treat people well who are loyal to you. 

A generous and humble philanthropist, Don supported causes that reflected his values – education, healthcare, faith, and community. A proud Brandeis alumnus, he was steadfast in his support for future students at the university. He was a major supporter of the University of Miami and Mount Sinai Medical Center, and helped launch the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center in honor of his parents, Ida and Harry. His legacy lives on through institutions like the Don Soffer Aventura High School and the Don Soffer Clinical Research Center. Don also focused his philanthropic efforts internationally, helping to build a home and strengthen the community at the New Hope orphanage in Haiti. His support extended to organizations including City of Hope, Best Buddies, Breast Cancer Initiative, and the Humane Society of Greater Miami.

Don received the Simon Wiesenthal Center Humanitarian Award in 2024. Brandeis University gave him an honorary doctorate in 2023, the Alumni Achievement Award in 2019, and he was inducted into the Brandeis Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009. The Don Soffer Aventura High School, a tuition-free charter school, was named after Soffer in 2019 in tribute to his legacy in the local community.

Donald Soffer built more than landmark destinations during his lifetime; he built a legacy defined by vision, generosity, and impact. He will be forever remembered by the communities he created, the lives he touched, and his family which continues to build on the foundation he laid.

To honor Don's lifelong commitment to giving back, those who wish to continue his legacy of philanthropy may do so by making a contribution in his memory. Donations may benefit either the Humane Society of Greater Miami or New Hope 4 Haiti and can be made by following this LINK (https://linktr.ee/DonaldMSoffer).

Media contact: To contact the family, please reach out to both Susan Ainsworth, susan@ainsworthassociates.net & Amy Rossetti, pr@fbdev.com

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SOURCE The Family of Donald M. Soffer