A great man passed away on Father's
Day, June 18, 2006. David G. Ellsworth was a treasure, a gift to all
who knew him. David was larger than life, generous to a fault and
touched the hearts of many. A devoted father and friend, David's light
shined especially bright as "papa" to his two beloved granddaughters.
As dedicated and hard working a man as anyone has ever met, David
achieved dramatic success as a leading international real estate attorney,
and more recently as Chairman of his own international resort development
and investment banking company. He was often called a "visionary"
and a "pioneer" by his peers, especially for his extensive
work in Mexico and other countries around the world.
David is survived by Kyle Corsiglia, a woman whom he loved and cherished,
his two children, Brett Ellsworth and Erin Roberts, whom he left very
well prepared to carve their own paths in life, and by his two lovely
granddaughters, Devon and Kennedy.
Through almost three decades of foresight and leadership, David G.
Ellsworth, the founder of Contact Development Company, LLC, was among
those individuals influential in shaping the success of the international
resort real estate industry of today. He worked in investment banking,
marketing and sales, and development services roles with numerous
private-sector real estate development groups, as well as with US
and foreign investors and developers, on projects in the USA including
Hawaii, Mexico, Latin America, the Caribbean, Austral-Asia, the Pacific,
and Europe. Mr. Ellsworth was a respected attorney and a former Sr.
Partner and Chairman of the Real Estate Section of two of the world's
largest international law firms, in addition to maintaining his continuous
commitment to his real estate investment banking and real estate sales
and marketing activities.
Mr. Ellsworth was well known as a spokesman for and authority
on the resort development industry, and was a noted writer and speaker
on domestic and international resort real estate development topics.
He advised governmental agencies and elected officials in crafting
legislation on related issues such as regulatory compliance questions
involving the resort development industry, vacation ownership, casino
gaming and land use. Under his guidance CDC achieved a leading-edge
position in facilitating equity capital investment as well as the
debt financing for projects in the resort/residential, leisure,
entertainment and gaming real estate segments worldwide, as well
as the development and sales and marketing of such properties and
their components.
Within the residential marketing and sales division of CDC, Mr.
Ellsworth was responsible for conceptualizing and strategizing the
development of complex domestic and international "cross-border"
residential marketing and sales programs including the implementation
of operations that specialize in the on-site and off-site sale of
the "retail" real estate products within private residential/resort
communities. This includes CDC's ownership and management roles
in the Prudential International Resorts and international sales
company, and within the Punta Mita Resort near Puerto Vallarta,
Mexico, through CDC's affiliated marketing and sales company, Punta
Mita Properties.
Mr. Ellsworth was the Vice-Chairman and a member of the Recreational
Development Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), as well as
a past member of the Executive Group of the Community Development
Council. In July 1988 he was appointed by the President of the Urban
Land Institute to serve as a member of the International Committee
of the ULI. Additionally, he was an active member of the International
Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC), a member of The National
Club Association and the California State Club Association, and
served as a Director of the latter. Mr. Ellsworth was also a former
director of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) based
in Washington, DC, and served as a member of the Board of Commissioners
of the Los Angeles County Housing Authority for eight years, and
as Chairman and Vice Chairman of that Board for seven of those years.
Further, Mr. Ellsworth was a member of the Executive Committee and
Board of Directors of The Lusk Center for Real Estate Development
of the University of Southern California for seven years.
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