Donald Light's Obituary
A truly one-of-a-kind Long Beach native and converted South Florida... pioneer has passed at the age of 97. Donald Light (birth name Donald Lichenstein). Back in the late 40’s packed his knapsack and hitch hiked to the sun and fun of South Florida as an adventurous 23-year-old accompanied by his lifelong friend Danny. Both had by now done a stint in the Armed Services and were off to make their marks on the world. The two scraped by until the sweltering South Florida pre air conditioning heat set in. Danny picked up and headed home and completed work on his burgeoning diet meal-in-a- can product he called Slim Fast that would launch him into billionaire status decades later. Both remain close lifetime friends.
Donald stayed in Miami doing odd and not so odd jobs - ranging from Miami Beach Police officer to amusement park empresario. But his passion was real estate and as luck would have it, he had set his tents in the fastest developing area of the country and Donald - being the visionary that he was - was determined to get his piece of the South Florida real estate pie. Donald entered University of Miami, attending business classes on his small (ever frugal) motorcycle. He obtained a real estate license and began commissioned sales - getting his feet wet on the ins and outs of the very competitive South Florida Real Estate Market. In short order - Donald bought his first property in the North Miami area and officially became a landlord. Along the way Donald married his lifelong partner-to-be Jackie, together they invested in wide and varied real estate ventures. For a short period, they became owners of a moderately successful tourist-oriented bar over on the Miami Beach side of the 79th Street Causeway. As the business blossomed - so did its reputation - so much so that the wide-open organized crime syndicate that prevailed in early Miami days squeezed in, and Donald and Jackie exited the bar business - but not without a nice nest egg that allowed for expansion of their real estate investment interests.
Donald and Jackie were doing very well. They bought a fresh off the showroom floor new Cadillac. They had arrived. When Jackie passed several years ago - Donald's health was waning. He was, in fact, on the verge of financial ruin but - as luck would have it - he befriended an ambitious newly citizinised young lady and groomed her in the elements of his real estate business. Ivania has since become Donald's literal - right hand man - overseeing every aspect of his rejuvenated investment business. Their partnership allowing the business to blossom to its present-day status. Aside from the business, Donald became a huge part of Ivania’s family, also developing a relationship with her daughters, which brought him much love and joy.
Throughout all the up & downs - the trials and tribulations - the triumphs and disappointments - Donald always made certain that he supported his family and friends in every way possible. He regularly visited his mother and father - Hannah and William - who remained in Long beach as well as his beloved nephew Victor. Donald maintained a very close connection with his only sibling, Suzanne, who had moved to South Florida to be close to her brother and developed an equally fond business and personal connection with his Brother- in- law Don. In all instances Donald was - first and foremost - a caring and supportive human being to his family, his tight band of employees, his acquaintances both business and personal and his tenants, many whom have remained as his tenants for literally decades. That is the fabric of which humble Donald Lichenstein of Long Beach was cut. Donald's passing leaves a huge chasm in the heart of so, so many of those he touched throughout the 9 plus decades of his extraordinary life. He will be missed beyond words. Memorial Service will be Held on June 11, 2023 at 10:00 am at Levitt-Weinstein Blasberg Rubin Zilbert Memorial Chapel Located at 18840 W Dixie Highway North Miami Beach, Fl 33180
Donald is survived Ivania Perez Millie Espinales-Perez Hannah & Grace Schneiderman Mia Chirino-Espinales Alex Chirino Don Willis ( formal brother Inlaw) Victor& Bart Randazzo (nephews)
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