Leon Sanford Sirkin's Obituary
Leon Sirkin, 97, of Miami Beach, Florida, passed away on April 9th, 2026, peacefully at home, surrounded by family.
Leon was born on October 17th, 1928 in Jamaica, New York to Harry and Sarah Sirkin. He was the youngest of four children, including Milton, Alexander (“Eddie”), and Adele. He graduated from Ida M. Fisher High School in Miami Beach and went on to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he studied Civil Engineering and was inducted into the Tau Beta Pi honor society.
His first marriage was to Sally Barmat, with whom he had two children, Spring (Arthur Frank), and Jeffry. He and his second wife, Doris Weinstein, shared 58 years until her passing in 2018; together they raised two children, Shayna and David. He is also survived by his granddaughter, Ashlyn Frank, and many nieces and nephews.
Leon worked alongside his father and brothers in the family’s commercial property business, Sirkin Enterprises, developing Art Deco hotels and Miami Modern style buildings, on Lincoln Road and around South Beach. For many years, he managed the DiLido Hotel (now a Ritz-Carlton), where his attention to detail shaped everyone’s experience—from guests in their rooms, to those celebrating in the ballrooms, to staff in the supper club.
Leon and Doris made their homes in Fisher Island, Florida and Scarborough, Maine, and supported charitable causes in both communities. They were Founders of Mount Sinai Medical Center and the Miami Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged. They were also members of Temple Emanu-El in Miami Beach, and Congregations Beth Israel and Etz Chaim in Maine.
Leon was a gymnast in college before turning to golf after an injury. He maintained a low handicap for years and played into his 90s. Across his life, he enjoyed summers in Maine sailing Saco Bay with nephews, beach volleyball with neighbors, and wandering through L.L. Bean. Winters in Miami Beach often meant dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab, and in later years, time at home with family.
He will be remembered for his eye for detail, his dry sense of humor, and the simple routines—a round of golf, an evening at home, dessert before dinner—that meant the most to him.
A memorial service will be held on April 12th, 2026 at 12pm at Temple Emanu-El, 1701 Washington Av. Miami Beach, FL 33139. Interment will follow at 2pm at Mount Nebo Memorial Gardens, 5505 NW 3rd St. Miami, FL 33126. Shiva will be held at 3:30pm at Temple Emanu-El.
Arrangements by Levitt Weinstein Blasberg Rubin Zilbert Memorial Chapels, (305) 932-2700.
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