Miami Beach 2021 Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

(Miami Beach, FL) Oct 14, 2021 -

The city’s first openly gay employee, the longest-serving city manager in Miami Beach and a renowned philanthropist are among six inductees who will be honored and enshrined in the Miami Beach Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, Oct. 14 at 11 a.m. in the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Members of the 2021 class of the Hall of Fame join former Mayor Matti Bower, Norman Braman, Barbara Capitman, Emilio and Gloria Estefan and Morris Lapidus who were inducted in 2019 as part of the Hall of Fame’s inaugural class.

“Being inducted into the Miami Beach Hall of Fame is one of the greatest honors we bestow on individuals who have made exceptional contributions to Miami Beach,” explained Commissioner Micky Steinberg. “Inductees can come from the world of art, architecture, athletics, business, civics, design, education, family legacy or science.”

The 2021 class includes Michael Aller, Tony Goldman, Jorge M. Gonzalez, Dr. Solomon “Sol” Lichter, Stephen Muss and Mitchell “Micky” Wolfson, who founded The Wolfsonian. Eligible candidates must have been born in Miami Beach, made Miami Beach their place of residence or business and/or had a positive and lasting impact on the community.

“All 17 nominees considered for inclusion in the City of Miami Beach Hall of Fame were recognized as deserving, and qualified for inclusion,” said Victor M. Diaz, Jr., who chairs the Hall of Fame Committee. “This diverse list of nominees speaks to the wide array of men and women that have contributed to making Miami Beach a great city and all of them are deserving of recognition.”

A permanent plaque bearing the likeness and accomplishments of each inductee will hang in the South Hallway of the newly renovated Miami Beach Convention Center, located at 1901 Convention Center Dr.

“The selection of the final six inductees required the careful and difficult deliberation of the Hall of Fame Committee,” Diaz added. “We join in congratulating all six inductees and their families and thank them for their invaluable and substantial contribution to making the City of Miami Beach a world-class city.”

About the 2021 Inductees

Michael Aller

Michael Aller, whose dedication and passion for Miami Beach earned him the nickname “Mr. Miami Beach,” was the city’s first openly gay employee. He has received numerous accolades over the years — from the South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year in 2005 by the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism to the Twelve Good Men of Miami Award in 2008 by the Ronald McDonald House. Aller has served on the boards of Red Cross, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Committee, Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association, National LGBTQ Task Force, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Tony Goldman

Tony Goldman is widely credited with bringing prosperity and vitality to Miami Beach by helping Ocean Drive become an international tourist destination. He is also recognized for his visionary investments in New York’s SoHo neighborhood and the revitalization of Wynwood in Miami. In 2010, when Goldman won the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s highest honor, the Louise du Pont Crowninshield Award, Trust President Stephanie Meeks noted: “At its core, preservation is about recognizing the value of historic buildings and neighborhoods and restoring life to places that define and enrich our communities. That is what Tony Goldman does.”

Jorge M. Gonzalez

Jorge M. Gonzalez served as the 19^th city manager of Miami Beach from Aug. 21, 2000 through Sept. 30, 2012. He was the youngest and longest-serving city manager in the modern era. During his tenure, Gonzalez made significant contributions to ensure the city’s position as a world-class destination while meeting the needs of residents and visitors.

Dr. Solomon “Sol” Lichter

Dr. Solomon “Sol” Lichter served first as a teacher on Miami Beach and then as principal at Nautilus Junior High (Miami Beach Nautilus Middle School), Ada Merritt Junior High and Ida M Fisher High (now Miami Beach Fienberg-Fisher K-8 Center) where he pioneered the first and largest community school program in Florida. He also was principal at Miami Beach Senior High where he served for more than 10 years and brought the school national recognition. His many awards include Miami Beach’s Outstanding Teacher, the George Washington National Educator’s Award, the American Legion Award, the B’nai Brith Outstanding Citizens Award and the Education Honors Society Service Award.

Stephen Muss

Stephen Muss was a driving force in the resurgence and redevelopment of Miami Beach. He joined the family business and supervised the building of homes and apartment buildings in Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, New Jersey and Florida throughout the 1950s and 1960s. In 1967, he moved to Miami Beach and began developing properties that would eventually lead to his becoming Miami Beach’s single largest landlord and taxpayer. In 1978, he brought the Fontainebleau Hotel out of bankruptcy, renovated the property and brought along Hilton as the property manager to attract large-scale conventions and meeting bookings. This would be the beginning of putting Miami Beach back on the map as a hospitality destination.

Mitchell “Micky” Wolfson, Jr.

Mitchell Wolfson Jr., known to most of us as “Micky,” has been a key figure in the cultural transformation of Miami Beach, most significantly with the founding of The Wolfsonian, a world-renowned museum and research center uniquely devoted to the roles of architecture, design and the decorative arts in creating the modern world. In 1997, Wolfson endowed the institution with his remarkable collection and unparalleled rare book library, which together still comprise the overwhelming majority of The Wolfsonian’s 200,000-item holdings. Prior to the public launching of The Wolfsonian, he created The Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts, a prestigious and scholarly publication found in important libraries and museums worldwide.

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