Joseph Soffer
| Joseph Soffer | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1913 Duquesne, Pennsylvania |
| Died |
June 13, 2006 (age 94) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Residence | Squirrel Hill |
| Nationality | United States |
| Occupation | Real estate developer |
| Known for | Founder of the Soffer Organization |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Spouse(s) | Violet Gusky |
| Children |
R. Damian Soffer James Lee Soffer |
| Parent(s) |
Lena Haber Soffer Jacob Soffer |
| Family | Donald Soffer (nephew) |
Joseph Soffer (1913- June 13, 2006) was an American real estate developer and philanthropist.[1][2]
Early life and education
Soffer was one of four children born to a Jewish family in 1913 in Duquesne, Pennsylvania,[1][2] the son of Lena (nee Haber) and Jacob Soffer.[2] His parents were immigrants from Eastern Europe.[2] His father owned a grocery store where he worked as a teenager.[1] He had three siblings: Sylvia Chotiner, Harry Soffer, and Ruth Pressman.[2][3] Soffer graduated from Duquesne High School after which he started to invest in real estate by purchasing single-family homes and small apartment buildings.[1] During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Corps Transportation Command[2] where he was stationed at Love Field in Texas.[1]
Career
After the war, he formed Soffer Realty in McKeesport, Pennsylvania with his brother Harry (the father of Donald Soffer).[1] They built the Norwin Shopping Center in Irwin, Pennsylvania[1] and operated the Baldoc Hills Golf Club also in Irwin.[2] In 1960, he partnered with Benjamin Thorpe and built the 7-building Penn Center East in Wilkins Township, Pennsylvania - one of the first suburban office parks around Pittsburgh - which was unique at that time as it contained not only office space (700,000 square feet) but also retail (300,000 square feet) and residential (448 units).[1] The project was completed in 1964,[1] the same year he established the Soffer Organization.[2] In 1985, he completed a similar project named Penn Center West in Robinson Township, Pennsylvania.[1] He remained as chairman of the Soffer Organization until his death, which at the time owned 2 million square feet of office, retail and residential property in the Pittsburgh area.[1][2]
Philanthropy and awards
While stationed in Texas, he joined the Masonic Order (rising to the 32nd Degree) and the Shriners.[2] In 2004, Soffer received a lifetime achievement award from the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.[1] He also supported a number Jewish charities as well as the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Symphony.[2] He and his wife established the Violet and Joseph Soffer Foundation and Family Special Olympics at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh.[4]
Personal life
Soffer was married to Violet Gusky, a native of Braddock, Pennsylvania[1] whom he met while on leave from the Army.[2] The couple lived in Squirrel Hill until his death on June 13, 2016[1] at UPMC Presbyterian in Oakland.[2] Services were held at the Tree of Life Congregation and he was buried at the Temple B'nai Israel Cemetery in Versailles, Pennsylvania.[1] They had two sons R. Damian Soffer and James Lee Soffer.[1] His son R. Damiam is the current CEO and president of the Soffer Organization.[2]
Soffer belonged to the older generation of Pittsburgh real estate developers - such as Edward J. Lewis, Jack Buncher, Stanley Gumberg, and Leonard Rudolph - who conducted business with a handshake.[5] Soffer believed that the key to his success was taking advantage of opportunities: “Just remember one thing: You can't catch the same streetcar twice."[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pittsburgh Post Gazette: “Obituary: Joseph Soffer / Real estate developer who built major shopping centers in region” By Elwin Green June 13, 2006
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pittsburgh Tribune: “Developer began family philanthropy tradition” BY Jerry Vondas June 12, 2006
- ↑ The Pittsburgh Press: "Mall Magnate Harry Soffer Dies at 63" September 14, 1972
- ↑ Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh: "Violet and Joseph Soffer Foundation and Family Special Olympics" retrieved May 25, 2016
- ↑ Pittsburgh Post Gazette: "Who will be next to build region? - Eddie Lewis' death creates a big void" By Dan Fitzpatrick December 2, 2006