David Siegel, founder and owner of Westgate Resorts, has passed away at the age of 89. Siegel, who purchased the then-LVH hotel-casino in 2014, was a prominent figure in the Las Vegas hospitality industry.
Siegel’s love for Las Vegas began when his parents, Sid and Sadelle, frequently visited the city. He named one of his hotels, Westgate Las Vegas, after his mother’s nickname “Sadelle.” The hotel has been famous for its rotation of superstar headliners, including Elvis Presley, who performed there from 1969 to 1976.
Siegel was a fierce advocate against the opioid crisis and founded the Victoria’s Voice Foundation with his wife Jackie. He was also a proponent of naloxone, a nasal spray that rapidly arrests the effects of an opioid overdose.
After stepping down as CEO of Westgate Resorts last year due to health reasons, Siegel remained as executive chairman of the board and president. Under his leadership, Westgate Las Vegas became one of the iconic resorts in Las Vegas.
Siegel’s legacy will live on through his company and the Victoria’s Voice Foundation, which has raised funds to provide naloxone to first responders and families affected by opioid overdose. The foundation was established after Siegel’s daughter, Victoria, died of an accidental overdose in 2015 at age 18.
A longtime friend and ally to Raiders owner Mark Davis, Siegel treated him like a king during his time at the Westgate Las Vegas hotel. The documentary “The Queen of Versailles” chronicles Siegel’s attempt to build the largest house in the United States, which has been turned into a musical with Kristen Chenoweth and F. Murray Abraham.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Victoria Siegel Foundation, established by Siegel to continue his battle against the opioid crisis that claimed his daughter’s life.
Source: https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/entertainment-columns/kats/david-siegel-owner-of-famed-westgate-las-vegas-dies-at-89-3347485