Edward J. "Eddie" Lewis (May 30, 1937 – November 30, 2006) was a Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...

 businessman, philanthropist

Philanthropist

A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...

, and real estate

Real estate

In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...

 developer. After graduating from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...

, Lewis joined his father, Eugene Lebowitz, in several small real estate ventures, which quickly flourished into the multi-faceted real estate development corporation that is Oxford Development Company.

Among his accomplishments, Eddie Lewis is credited for developing the first two-story enclosed shopping mall

Shopping mall

A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...

 in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, South Hills Village

South Hills Village

South Hills Village is a two-level shopping mall located in the Pittsburgh suburbs of Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair. It was developed by the Oxford Development Co. as the first shopping complex to be built as a fully enclosed structure. The two-level complex is currently owned by Simon Property...

 in Pittsburgh, PA, and virtually conceptualizing the modern American regional shopping mall thereafter. Additionally, Lewis was instrumental in developing much of what has become Aventura, FL, a city which he named, in South Florida, with developments including Aventura Mall

Aventura Mall

The Aventura Mall is an upscale super-regional shopping mall in Aventura, Florida, a northern suburb of Miami. It is the largest conventional shopping mall in Florida, having a gross leasable area of , and is the fifth largest shopping center in the United States. The mall has three floors of...

, Turnberry Isle Resort and Club

Turnberry Isle Resort and Club

Turnberry Isle Resort and Club is a luxury resort in the city of Aventura, Florida, which is near Miami. It features Robert Trent Jones designed golf courses, a spa, tennis facilities, an ocean club, and restaurants....

, and numerous high-end residential projects. Lewis' achievements in commercial real estate span numerous states and range from spiraling urban skyscrapers to suburban retail centers.

Despite keeping a low profile with the press, Lewis' famed yacht

Yacht

A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...

 Monkey Business

Monkey Business Yacht

Monkey Business is a yacht frequently docked in South Florida at the Turnberry Isle Resort Marina. Monkey Business was an 83-foot Broward motor yacht custom built and owned by the developers of the luxury resort. Famous guests included Elton John, Elizabeth Taylor, Jack Nicholson, Julio...

became an internationally-known household name after a visit by President

President

A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...

ial-hopeful Gary Hart

Gary Hart

Gary Hart is an American politician, lawyer, author, professor and commentator. He served as a Democratic Senator representing Colorado , and ran in the U.S...

 sunk his political campaign.

Lewis was the Chairman of the Board

Chair (official)

The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...

 of his family-owned company, which continues to be a prominent player in commercial

Commerce

While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...

 and residential real estate.

Edward J. Lewis died on Thursday, November 30, 2006 from complications related to lung cancer. He is survived by his wife Anne and his children Jon, Cathy, Benjamin, and Andy.