Florida – Donald M. Soffer, the visionary real estate developer behind Aventura, Aventura Mall, Turnberry Isle Resort, and much of the modern Miami skyline, passed away peacefully on July 20, 2025, at the age of 92, surrounded by loved ones in his Aventura home.
Early Life & Core Values
Born on September 20, 1932, in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, Soffer grew up in a working-class Jewish family. His father, Harold (“Harry”) Soffer, was an appliance salesman and automobile dealer. Don learned hard work early—he began contributing to the family business while still in school. A football scholarship took him to Brandeis University, where he earned a psychology degree in 1955 and faced a pivotal crossroads: a career in professional football or duty to his country. He chose service, joining the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, “the Screaming Eagles,” and developing a lifelong sense of duty and discipline.
After military service, he returned to Pittsburgh to help expand the family real‑estate firm, pioneering suburban shopping centers like South Hills Village and Monroeville Mall. These early ventures foreshadowed his transformation of Florida’s landscape.
Building Aventura: A Visionary Urban Tapestry
In 1967, Don co-led a bold, $6 million acquisition of 785 acres of swamp in Miami‑Dade County. Where others saw marshland, he envisioned a planned city built around a world‑class golf course and residential towers. Rebranded as Aventura—Spanish for “adventure”—the development became a masterclass in vision, marketing, and determination.
Approval was not easy. Through tactful negotiation with then‑Governor Claude Kirk, Soffer secured a massive rezoning and crafting of a 23,900‑unit master plan that included public amenities—libraries, fire stations, causeways—alongside The Turnberry Country Club golf course. By 1977, Aventura was alive with residential high‑rises and a thriving community.
Turnberry Legacy & Landmark Projects
From the ashes of his split with Arlen Realty in 1977, Soffer founded Turnberry Associates. His bold vision led to redevelopment of the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach, expansion of Turnberry Isle into a luxury resort, and the creation of Aventura Mall—one of the nation’s largest retail destinations.
Over decades, Turnberry diversified. It launched Turnberry Ocean Club Residences, partnered on SoLé Mia, and spearheaded projects like an 800‑key JW Marriott Convention Center hotel in Miami Beach. Under his stewardship, Turnberry executed more than $10 billion in developments.
Family, Philanthropy & Stewardship
Soffer’s approach was deeply family‑centric. Married five times—including to wife Michele King Soffer since 2013—he fathered seven children, among them industry leaders Jackie and Jeffrey Soffer. Jackie now serves as Chair and CEO of Turnberry Associates, while Jeffrey heads Fontainebleau Development, preserving twin legacies of innovation and refinement.
His philanthropic commitments were equally impactful. He donated $15 million to Brandeis—its largest gift to that point—and $25 million to the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. His name graces institutions like Don Soffer Aventura Charter High School and the Don Soffer Clinical Research Center, testaments to his belief in community investment.
Community Builder & Civic Influence
Though never an elected official, Soffer became the unofficial “godfather of Aventura.” The city’s high school bears his name, and local leaders credit him with transforming wetlands into a model municipality, with enduring public infrastructure and thriving economic vitality.
Final Reflections & Celebration of Life
His legacy stretches far beyond development. He cultivated culture–arts funding, bolstered civic institutions, and modelled intergenerational leadership. Today, his skyline remains his biography: Aventura Mall, Turnberry Isle, towering condos, and charitable institutions.
A celebration of life will take place on Monday, July 21, at 10 a.m. at the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center, a congregation he helped establish—and no surprise, fittingly in the sanctuary that bears his and his family’s name.
Legacy Beyond Concrete: A Mentor and Architect of Community
Donald Soffer’s story is one of transformation—of self, by choice, and wetlands, by vision. He taught deliberation, loyalty, and adaptability. He proved that building a city is less about erecting structures and more about crafting communities aligned around shared purpose and values.
His children, peers, neighbors, and the thousands who call Aventura home can trace their futures back to one man’s audacity. In an age of rapid growth and fleeting trends, Don Soffer stands as a reminder that the greatest developments are measured not just in square footage, but in legacy.
Donald M. Soffer is survived by his wife Michele King Soffer, his seven children — including Jackie and Jeffrey Soffer — 13 grandchildren, and a great‑grandchild. His impact will continue to shape Aventura, South Florida, and the wider world of urban development—ensuring his memory lives on as one of the foremost builder‑citizens of his generation.
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Donald Soffer’s story—a chronicle of grit, ingenuity, architecture, philanthropy, and civic devotion—deserves to be remembered, shared, and celebrated for generations to come. May his memory be a blessing.