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Don Soffer’s life unfolded like the very city he brought to life—vivid, energetic, and guided by vision and wit. Born in 1932 in the steel town of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, Don grew up with the grit and ambition only forged in family businesses. Awarded a football scholarship, he graduated from Brandeis University in 1954, eschewing a potential NFL career for service in the 101st Airborne Division. This combination of discipline and daring gave Don his signature appetite for life—he chased every new challenge as if it were as exhilarating as a game-winning play.
From his early days building Pittsburgh’s South Hills Village and the Monroeville Mall—a feat he accomplished before the age of 35—Don tackled ever-larger challenges with a spirit of innovation and adventure. In the late 1960s, gazing out over the subtropical sprawl north of Miami, he saw not worthless marshland but possibility. He famously sketched the future “Aventura” on the back of a cocktail napkin, convincing powerful skeptics—often with the aid of a sly joke and the ever-present twinkle in his eye—that his $6 million gamble would one day become a thriving city. The iconic Aventura Mall, Turnberry Isle, golf courses, marinas, private clubs, residences, hotels and the connective tissue of green spaces and blue skies are beloved by generations who have lived their lives in the community that Don created.
Turning swampland into Aventura took more than money and bulldozers; it took clever persuasion. When confronted by political hurdles, Don’s sharp humor and persuasive skills turned meetings into memorable events. Legend has it, he once convinced Florida’s Governor in five minutes that the city was the Governor’s own idea—then let the man run with it. For Don, every challenge was a game to be played—and every victory a story to be savored.
Don’s zest for life wasn’t limited to business – he committed 100% to anything he turned his hand to. An outdoorsman and adventurer, he delighted in fishing, boating, and virtually any sport, always bringing along friends and family—anyone ready for a little mischief and a lot of fun. He hosted pro-celebrity tennis and golf tournaments, not just to make news, but because he loved the spectacle, the laughter, and the stories that would linger long after the last shot was played. He adored old movie musicals, off-color jokes, living well, good design. More than anything, he loved his beautiful wife Michele, his seven children, 13 grandchildren, and new great grandchild.
Aventura’s skyline, bustling streets, and lush golf courses are a monument to a man whose appetite for life was matched only by the size of his vision and the sharpness of his wit.
Don Soffer lived not just to build, but to bring others along for the adventure
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