Donald Soffer, the real estate magnate who transformed South Florida swampland into the thriving city of Aventura, died on Saturday at his home in Florida. He was 92.
Donald Soffer’s name is synonymous with one of the most ambitious real estate developments in American history. In the late 1960s, he led the transformation of nearly 800 acres of undeveloped marshland into what would become Aventura—a high-end, master-planned community anchored by luxury residences, golf courses, marinas, and one of the largest shopping malls in the country. His vision reshaped the skyline and economic future of northeast Miami-Dade County.
Early Life and Career
Born September 20, 1932, in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, Soffer grew up in a business-minded Jewish family. After graduating from Brandeis University in 1955 with a degree in economics, he returned to Pittsburgh to enter the construction and real estate business with his father. In 1965, their company helped build South Hills Village, Pittsburgh’s first indoor mall. But it was in Florida where Soffer made his name.
In 1967, with financial backing from John Hancock Life Insurance, Soffer acquired 785 acres of swampy land. Renaming the area “Aventura” — Spanish for “adventure” — he imagined not just a luxury neighborhood but a lifestyle brand. His flagship project, the Turnberry Isle Resort & Country Club, attracted a wealthy clientele and helped set the tone for future developments across the region. The Aventura Mall, which he helped build in the 1980s, stands today as one of the premier retail destinations in the U.S.
Legacy in Real Estate
Donald Soffer later founded Turnberry Associates, one of the country’s most influential private real estate firms. His children, Jeffrey and Jackie Soffer, joined the business in the 1980s and 1990s, eventually taking the reins of the company and continuing their father’s legacy.
A philanthropist as well as a businessman, Soffer donated $15 million to Brandeis University in 2008 — the largest gift in the school’s history at the time.
He is survived by his wife, Michele King Soffer, seven children, including developers Jeffrey and Jackie Soffer, and numerous grandchildren.
Don Soffer’s legacy lives on in the skyline he helped build, the city he named, and the generations of developers he inspired.
