Arnold Alexander Daoud

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Arnold Alexander Daoud – better known by his friends, colleagues, and the public at large as 'Alex' – who left us peacefully in his home on March 15th, 2025. He was 81 years old.
Born in Miami Beach, FL on May 19th, 1943, Alex's City of Birth would become his permanent home, his focus, and a major component of his legacy. Raised by his parents Abraham Daoud and Evelyn Tanous, both of Lebanese descent, his early years were shaped by his struggle with polio. He credited his recovery from polio to two key elements: the ardent love and support of his mother, as well as a unique form of physical therapy that remained a fixture of his life: the sport of boxing.
After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Tampa, he attended Law School at Northern Illinois University. He then returned to Miami Beach to begin his legal career; while he first worked in private practice, his true enthusiasm came from his work providing free legal aid to senior citizens. This advocacy for the city's most vulnerable residents – his neighbors and friends, as he viewed them – was the catalyst for his next venture, political life.
In 1979, he began his career in politics through election to the Miami Beach Commission. Serving three terms as Commissioner, he advocated for the protection of Miami Beach's elderly population, as well as the revitalization of the City. Larger than life in both stature and personality, his presence was magnanimous. In the spirit of his one-time sparring partner in boxing, Muhammad Ali, Alex "floated like a butterfly" when he spoke with Miami Beach's citizens, seemingly remembering everyone's name, yet would "sting like a bee" when defending his hometown. He was graceful, he was relentless, he was a Son of Miami Beach.
For these reasons, it was no surprise that in 1985, Alex was elected as Mayor of Miami Beach, becoming both the first Roman Catholic to hold this Office. His advocacy for the City and its citizens continued, leading to him receiving an overwhelming 87% of the popular vote in his 1987 re-election campaign, and his election to an unprecedented third term as Mayor in 1989. During his time as Mayor, Alex commemorated the Miami Beach Convention Center as the Muhammad Ali Hall of Champions, he was part of the Committee that led the development of the Holocaust Memorial of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, and he supported many of the ventures that would ultimately lead to Miami Beach becoming a premier travel and tourism destination worldwide.
His political career came to an end in 1991, when he faced indictment on federal charges. Never skipping a beat, Alex would later say of his time in prison, "I wouldn't recommend it."
Following his political career, Alex began work on what would become his next greatest achievement: becoming an author. For fourteen years, he worked on his autobiography. Cathartic, challenging, and brutal at times, Alex first penned his life's story under the name 'The Indictment', which ultimately changed to the title, Sins of South Beach. The book, which he described as "the true story of corruption, violence, murder, and the making of Miami Beach", was his magnum opus. He cast off his robes and accepted the shortcomings and mistakes he made during his career. Ever ready to help those facing similar struggles in life, the epilogue of his book featured his own personal cell phone number. When autographing copies of his book, he would often write to his reader, "I hope you enjoy reading 'Sins' as much as I enjoyed committing them."
A devoted teacher and friend to those in need, Alex was the quiet mentor to many local and statewide politicians. His unmatched speaking abilities, his effortless way of connecting with others, and his near-magical skill of making anyone he spoke with feel like the most important person in the room made him special, and he was eager to pass both his knowledge and his warnings on to those entering the political arena. Demonstrating his triumph over his past transgressions, he was even invited by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to speak at the FBI Academy on public and political corruption.
Near the end of his life, Alex enjoyed the quiet and privacy of his home and his dogs. While he no longer went in public with the navy suit and Mayor's lapel pin (instead favoring his classic white T-shirt, basketball shorts, crew socks, and New Balance sneakers), whenever he was seen in public, he was still greeted as "The Mayor" by many. Magnetizing, radiant, and with lightning-quick wit, he was Alex Daoud until the day he passed away.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Patricia (Patt) and Joseph (Jody). He is survived by his son, Alexander Daoud, M.D., his daughters, Alexis Burlet-Daoud (Marco) and Kelly Hyman, his girlfriend, Jina Chavis, his German shepherds, Jody and Joe, and the City he loved more than any other.
A celebration of Alex's life will be held on Saturday, March 29th, at Saint Patrick's Parish Church on Miami Beach at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, the family and Alex both request that donations be made to the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), as well as the Miami Beach Police Athletic League (PAL).