Remembering David A. Siegel
Today we announce with great sadness the passing of David Alan Siegel, the Founder and Executive Chairman of Westgate Resorts, at the age of 89. David’s last months were spent surrounded by his loving wife Jacqueline, his children, extended family and close friends.
David grew up in Florida, attended Miami Senior High School (where he was a wrestling champion), attended the University of Miami and served in the US Air Force Reserves before beginning his business career.
David’s vision to create high quality, yet accessible hospitality began in his garage and grew into what is now Central Florida Investments & Westgate Resorts, one of the largest private hospitality companies in the United States with more than 13,500 rooms, 22 resort destinations and more than 330,000 owner families. Most recently with David’s blessing and wisdom, Westgate announced the largest geographic expansion in our company’s history. David was focused on work all the way until the end.
David’s immense energy and creativity were not limited to the hospitality and timeshare businesses of Westgate; his other incredibly successful ventures include countless real estate developments, the family entertainment center attraction – Mystery Fun House, property management, insurance, restaurants, casinos and retail.
David embodied America’s spirit of entrepreneurialism, social mobility and celebration of business success. From humble beginnings David created a legacy and business that is the source of the kinds of jobs, governmental tax revenues and community stability that embody the American dream and underpin the DNA of American capitalism.
David’s energy and caring extended well beyond his business enterprises. He was an energetic and caring father and husband, the committed founder of the Victoria’s Voice Foundation created to honor his late daughter Victoria and Board Chair of the Westgate Foundation that grants more than a million dollars each year to fund community needs, Team Member support and important initiatives. After the passing of his beloved daughter Victoria in 2015, David’s life mission radically changed toward solving the nation’s drug epidemic. The Victoria’s Voice Foundation advocated zealously for the widespread availability of Naloxone, lobbying Congress and raising awareness on this important issue. Some of his accomplishments include Victoria’s Law in the state of Florida which mobilized the Department of Health and other statewide agencies to focus on awareness and tackling this epidemic. On a national level as well as within the state of Florida, he was instrumental in passing a law that declared June 6th, the day of Victoria’s passing, as National Naloxone Awareness Day with more than 100 landmarks around the country lighting up purple to create awareness of this issue. His efforts also led to the passing of the CARA Act, a federal law that unlocked significant funds to be used toward fighting the drug epidemic. His goal was to rally affected families around the leading cause of unnatural death amongst young people. David was also awarded an honorary doctorate from Florida A&M University for his work in community service and in 2025 received the ARDA Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in the timeshare and vacation ownership industry.
David’s spirit lives on in the thousands of lives he touched, via the jobs his companies created, the hospitality he enabled, the charities and communities he supported, the important policy issues he helped shape, and simply by the network of extended close friends he maintained throughout his life.
David was predeceased by his daughter Victoria “Rikki” Siegel, his oldest son Steven Siegel, his brother Norman Siegel and his parents Sidney & Sadelle Siegel. He is survived by his wife Jacqueline Siegel; daughters Stacey Siegel, Valerie Drinkwater, Deborah Siegel, Jacqueline Siegel and Jordan Siegel; sons Richard Siegel, David Siegel, Daniel Siegel and Drew Siegel; stepdaughters Kelly Hite and Janet Maland; twelve grandchildren and step grandchildren; and brother Barry Siegel.