David Z. Sokol Big D

David, affectionately known as “Big D”, grew up in New Britain Connecticut. His parents were Mortimore and Sadie Sokol. He had two brothers, Arthur and Jerry, and a sister, Naomi. As a young boy, he earned a reputation as a tough football and ice hockey player, and he even had his own football team that competed actively. After graduating from high school, David was drafted into the military. He served in both WW II and the Korean War. During part of his service, he was stationed overseas in North Africa. After his service, he attended the University of Miami where he graduated in 1950 and was a proud member of PiLam Fraternity and maintained relationships and loved attending reunions.

After college, David returned to the northeast to work in his family’s clothing business. He later moved back to Miami and began his lifelong career in real estate and joined the Keyes Company where he worked for 53 years. During his tenure, he was always Keyes’ top sales producer. He ultimately became a Senior Vice President, minority owner, and ran the the Commercial Sales Division at Keyes for 30 years. David was well-known for his unparalleled work ethic and persistence. The Daily Business Review reported that he was selected by his peers as the Top Realtor in Miami-Dade County.

Shortly after his return to Miami, he met the love of his life, a first grade teacher named Shelley, who he was happily married to for 61 years. They had four devoted children and nine adoring grandchildren (Jan and Ron Katz - Sean,(Tara), Mason & Samantha; Jerry and Allison Sokol - Jake, Sophie, Caroline & Isaac; Heidi and Scott Weinstein - Harley and Garet; and Michael Sokol) . NOTHING meant more to David than his family, and that fierce devotion to family is something that he passed on to his children.

David was incredibly proud of his Jewish Heritage. He was on the Board of the New Leadership Division of Israel Bonds; President of the Men’s Club of his synagogue; and was a Founding Supporter of the Dave and Mary Arper JCC.

David was a Miami Dolphins fan and a die hard Miami Hurricanes fan. It was hard to find him in anything other than Orange and Green, and he cherished the time attending and watching Hurricanes sporting events with his children and grandchildren.

David will be remembered for his kind, caring, compassionate, and gentle nature, as that was his pure essence. A finer nicer man did not exist. Shelley and David owned and operated a children’s summer camp, Camp Shalom, for 50 years. Their kids and grandkids grew up at Camp Shalom, and all have wonderful memories about camp and of Big D roaming around the camp always making sure everyone was happy - that was Big D!!!

When David was 19 years old, his younger brother Jerry died after 10 years of battling an infection. This had a profound impact on David. His family had a beach house in New London, CT down the street from the facility that Jerry lived in, and David always cherished this beach house, and this beach house was the last place he visited just five weeks before his death.

Funeral services for David will be held at Bet Shira 7500 SW 120th St, Pinecrest, Florida 33156 at 1PM on Wednesday August 9th.

A funeral service for David Z. will be held Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Bet Shira Congregation, 7500 SW 120th St., Miami, FL 33156.

In lieu of flowers dotation can be made in David's memory at : https://med.miami.edu/departments/neurology/divisions/movement-disorders-division/parkinson%E2%80%99s-disease

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.RiversideGordonMemorialChapels.com for the Sokol family.