David A. Stein died July 27 at age 85.
He was an entrepreneur, business owner and philanthropist who became chairman and CEO of the original franchisor of all Jacksonville-area Burger King restaurants.
He also was a founder of the Jewish Community Alliance.
A celebration of his life will begin at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 1 at Temple Ahavath Chesed, 8727 San Jose Blvd., with a reception immediately afterward at the Jewish Community Alliance, 8505 San Jose Blvd.
Stein was born Dec. 10, 1938, in Jacksonville to Ben and Ruth Stein.
As a teen, he worked in his father’s Burger King restaurant, the original location on Beach Boulevard, and graduated from Landon High School. He then attended the University of Florida but returned to Jacksonville before graduation to join the family business.
Stein mastered the operation and was eventually named chairman and CEO of Southern Industrial Corp., the original franchisor of all Jacksonville-area Burger King restaurants.
He founded and served as chairman of King Provision Corp., supplying Burger King restaurants throughout the Southeast.
Later, Stein co-founded T.L. Cannon Companies and became chairman. The firm operates Applebee’s restaurants in New York and Connecticut.
Stein and his wife, Linda Berry Stein, philanthropically supported numerous causes and organizations including creation of the Jewish Community Alliance, The Greenwood School and the Stein Scholars and continued his family’s support of River Garden Senior Services.
Stein and his wife sponsored and mentored students at the University of North Florida and Jacksonville University.
The Steins created the Stein Fellowship at the United Way of Northeast Florida and his gift to LJD Jewish Family and Community Services resulted in the Allison Stein Robbins building, named for his late daughter, which houses the Max Block Food Pantry.
Other beneficiaries of Stein’s generosity include Congregation Ahavath Chesed, the Jewish Federation and Foundation of Northeast Florida, and the Jewish National Fund.
Stein also supported the Jacksonville Humane Society; Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens; Mayo Clinic in Florida; Florida Community College at Jacksonville (now Florida State College at Jacksonville); the Quality Education for All Fund at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida; The ARC Jacksonville supporting the ARC Village; the North Florida School for Special Education; Hope Haven; KIPP Schools; Guardian Catholic Schools; Leadership Jacksonville; Cathedral Arts Project; and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.
Stein received many honors, including the highest awards given by One Jax, Leadership Jacksonville, First Coast Business Hall of Fame and the Jewish National Fund.
In 2021, he and his wife received the Association for Fundraising Professionals/North Florida Chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Stein was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Ruth Stein; brothers Albert Stein and Martin E. Stein Sr.; and daughter, Allison Robbins.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Linda Berry Stein; daughter, Tracey Stein Westbrook; grandsons David Robbins (Vanessa) and Cole Stein Westbrook; and great-granddaughter Katie Robbins.
Stein also is survived by sisters-in-law Joan Newton and Marilyn Stein; brother- in-law Kenneth Berry (Lynn); sister-in-law Catherine Berry; nephews and nieces, Martin E. Stein Jr. (Brooke), Richard Stein (Rebecca), Robert Stein (Polly), Daniel Stein, Donna Stein McNett, Ruth Stein, Benjamin Berry (Jason) and James Berry (Ashley).
The family said that in lieu of flowers, donations in Stein’s memory would be gratefully accepted by any of the organizations he supported in his lifetime.
Read more about David Stein and his accomplishments in his 2012 interview with the Daily Record: