To the residents of Aventura, developer Don Soffer was known as the city’s “godfather”—the man who sketched a vision for a new neighborhood on a cocktail napkin, then went on to make that dream a reality, turning 785 acres of mostly swampland into one of Miami-Dade County’s most stylish communities.
Soffer’s ability to envision and champion the future of a community was unmatched. Long before South Florida became a mecca for individuals, companies, and families seeking a place where life, work, and play intersect, he understood the region’s immense potential.
Soffer, the real estate mogul, businessman, and philanthropist who, along with his family, has left an indelible mark on the University, including a $25 million gift to the Miller School of Medicine’s Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute (ISCI), passed away on July 20.
He was 92.
Donald Morley Soffer was born on Sept. 20, 1932, in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, the son of Ida Kessler and businessman Harold “Harry” Soffer, who made a living selling appliances and owned a Studebaker car dealership.
Soffer graduated from Brandeis University in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics. After college, he ventured into the construction and real estate business with his father, building suburban shopping malls.
At the young age of 35, Soffer helped spearhead a deal to acquire hundreds of acres of swampland in Miami-Dade County, creating what is now the City of Aventura, which includes high-rises, golf courses, and the well-known Aventura Mall. He demonstrated that vision, resilience, and tenacity yield results—and he invested in other innovators through philanthropy as well.
Soffer’s support of, and connections to, the University of Miami are well known. His family’s landmark gift to ISCI has helped the institute foster groundbreaking stem cell research in a multitude of areas, supporting the exploration of therapies in the fields of cardiology, sports medicine, and aging-related frailty.
In recognition of the gift, the Clinical Research Building, located on Northwest 14th street in the heart of Miami’s Health District, was renamed the Don Soffer Clinical Research Center. It is home to more than 300,000 square feet of clinical research space, specializing in patient safety, pediatrics, and clinical pharmacology.
The Soffer name also adorns the University’s indoor practice facility for football student-athletes. The Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility, made possible by a $14 million lead gift from the family, opened in 2018, encompassing not just indoor practice fields for football but also new offices for football coaches, team meeting rooms, new football reception and recruiting areas, and weight room renovations.
The family’s commitment to the University is multi-generational. Soffer’s daughter, Jacquelyn R. Soffer, is a current member of the University’s Board of Trustees, serving on its Executive Committee and chairing the Academic Affairs Committee.
In addition to their support of the University of Miami, Soffer donated to numerous other causes, particularly in education and the arts. He donated $15 million to his alma mater, Brandeis University. He also supported Mount Sinai Medical Center and helped establish the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center in honor of his parents.
Soffer helped build the New Hope 4 Haiti orphanage in Haiti with his wife, Michele King Soffer, according to his family. City of Hope, Best Buddies, and the Humane Society of Greater Miami are also among his benefactors.
The Don Soffer Aventura High School was named after him in 2019, and he received the Simon Wiesenthal Center Humanitarian Award in 2024. Well known for his innovative spirit, business acumen, and generous heart, Soffer leaves the legacy of a life well lived.
