It is with profound sadness and deep gratitude for a beautiful life well lived that we share the passing of Jeff Berkowitz, age 78, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, cousin, uncle, friend, colleague, mentor, and community leader.

To so many, Jeff was the person you called for advice, help, perspective, or simply a laugh. He had a gift for making people feel seen, welcomed, and cared for, and he brought warmth, humor, wisdom, and generosity to every part of his life.

Jeff built a life of meaning, purpose, integrity, and joy. Though accomplished and successful in his field, titles and achievements never defined him as much as his character did. He led with generosity, worked with vision and determination, and treated people with respect, kindness, and humility.

A former practicing attorney, Jeff was the Chairman and Founder of Berkowitz Development Group, a full-service development company headquartered in Coconut Grove, Florida. He was widely regarded as one of Miami-Dade County’s preeminent retail developers and helped shape the commercial landscape of South Florida. Under his leadership, the company developed more than 2 million square feet of retail, office, and industrial space, including Dadeland Station Shopping Center—the first major vertical power center in the United States—Fifth & Alton at the gateway to South Beach, Aventura Commons, Kendall Village Center at the intersection of Kendall Drive and the Florida Turnpike, Homestead Commerce Park, and many other significant projects.

Today, the company he built continues to develop and prosper under the leadership of his sons, reflecting his vision and legacy.

For more than fifty years, Jeff was deeply active in civic and community affairs throughout Miami-Dade County. He served as the founding Executive Director of Dade County’s Civilian Review Board and Ombudsman Office, founded and chaired the Children’s Foundation of Greater Miami, and held leadership roles with numerous civic, Jewish, philanthropic, and community organizations, including the South Dade JCC, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, United Way Mayor’s Ball, People For the American Way, Anti Defamation League, Voices For Children Foundation, Friends of Miami Animals Foundation, and the Miami Children’s Museum, where he was a founder and served as chairman.

Nothing mattered more to Jeff than family. He was the beloved husband of Yolanda Berkowitz, with whom he built a life filled with love, resilience, laughter, and devotion. He was a loving and deeply committed father to Andrew and Michael, a proud father-inlaw to Felicia and Jolie, and a loving grandfather to Dylan, Jagger, Kaia, and Alora.

Jeff was wonderfully funny and irreverent, with a sharp wit, a playful spirit, and a gift for making people laugh when they needed it most. His stories, some preserved in the book he wrote for his family, will be retold for years—and likely improved upon in the retelling, which would have made him smile. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Richard Berkowitz and Sandy Grossman; his nieces, Bari and Hannah; his nephew, Louis; his former wife, Elaine Berkowitz, the mother of his children, with whom he shared many meaningful years, and many extended family members, friends, colleagues, and community members.

A celebration of Jeff’s life will be held at Temple Beth Am, 5950 SW 88th Street, Miami, Florida, at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The link to view the service is as
follows: tbam.org/jeffberkowitz

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lynn E. Rehabilitation Center or to Project Medishare.