David Siegel, the founder of Orlando-based Westgate Resorts who fought the opioid epidemic after his daughter overdosed, died Saturday at age 89.

Siegel established Westgate Resorts in his garage in 1982 with its first property on an orange grove he owned in Kissimmee.

Over the course of the next several decades as CEO he grew it into it what the company called the largest privately held timeshare business in the world and one of the largest resort developers in the United States — boasting more than 13,500 rooms at 22 resorts across the country.

He retired as CEO in March and was succeeded by Jim Gissy, a close friend and self-described right hand.

Gissy said in a news release announcing Siegel’s death that he was committed to continuing his legacy at the company.

“David worked hard to leave us a company that will continue to preserve its family origins, and the significant resources and ambition to instill joy in the lives we touch through the hospitality we provide,” he said. “We know that we are all up to the task of driving forward the legacy of this visionary man and the company he founded.”

A cause of death was not disclosed.

One of Central Florida’s wealthiest couples, David and his wife Jacqueline may be best known nationally for Lauren Greenfield’s 2012 documentary, “The Queen of Versailles,” which followed the couple and their family as they sought to build a 90,000-square-foot mansion called Versailles House, on Kirkstone Lane near Windermere.

“The Queen of Versailles” musical premiered last year in Boston, Massachusetts, and stars Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham as David Siegel and Kristin Chenoweth as Jacqueline Siegel. It’s coming to Broadway in the 2025-26 season.

But the couple may have drawn as much attention locally for their response to tragedy.

After their daughter Victoria died of an overdose at age 18 in 2015, the couple founded the Victoria’s Voice Foundation. The foundation honors their daughter’s memory and raises drug awareness and abuse prevention — specifically about opioids. A major focus has been increasing availability of the overdose-reversing drug naloxone — more commonly known by its brand name Narcan.

“Victoria kept a diary in her nightstand, which she filled with poetry, art and her innermost thoughts,” the couple wrote in a 2023 Orlando Sentinel column. “As we read through her diary on the night she died, we were stunned by her feelings of despair, so clearly articulated on the pages yet hidden from her family.

“Her diary told us everything she wouldn’t tell us in person. We could not save her, but her legacy may save the life of someone you love.”

The couple’s advocacy helped propel the Legislature last year to pass Victoria’s Law, which designated June 6 — the day of her death — as a day for the Florida Department of Health to focus on awareness of and tackling the drug epidemic. The law was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in Seminole County with the Siegels in attendance.

Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma, who joined the board of the foundation in 2021, was also in attendance for the law’s signing. He posted on Facebook about Siegel’s passing.

“David’s tireless efforts were instrumental in promoting the use of the life-saving drug Narcan among first responders, including our agency,” Lemma said. “His passion and commitment to making a difference have saved countless lives and inspired many of us to continue the fight against addiction.”

Westgate owns seven Central Florida resorts and 22 others across the country, as well as the Cocoa Beach Pier.

Siegel was inducted into the Central Florida Hospitality Hall of Fame by the University of Central Florida in 2013 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Resort Development Association earlier this year, the Westgate news release said.

Siegel also developed Orlando’s Mystery Fun House attraction, which operated on International Drive until 2001, and owned the Orlando Predators Arena League Football team. The team was founded in 1991 as an expansion team of the original AFL.

He had 13 children, 12 grandchildren and stepgrandchildren.