Aurora has named the performance hall in its new Town Square after Davide De Simone, a developer whose company donated $600,000 toward the project.
De Simone, who passed away in 2014, founded Woodbridge-based Royalpark Homes in 1984.
Family and friends of De Simone gathered in the newly named performance hall Nov. 20 to mark the occasion and pay tribute. Speaking during the event, Di Simone’s son, Marco, president of Royalpark, described his father as a “renaissance man” with a varied passion for the arts, particularly opera, theatre, ballroom dancing and film.
“His insatiable thirst for knowledge and culture drove him throughout his life,” he said, telling the story of how De Simone immigrated to Halifax, Nova Scotia in the 1950s. “The arts were the perfect playground for his curious mind. It wasn’t simply about experiencing the art, he wanted to understand its essence.”
The event featured musical performances, including a tribute song played on the piano by De Simone's granddaughter, Serena.
The funds helped the town beat its goal of raising $5 million from community members and businesses for Aurora Town Square. That campaign focused on securing donations of $50,000 but the town is still seeking contributions of $10,000 and above through its ongoing community campaign.
Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas said the Town Square facility was intended as a tool for community building, and thanked the De Simone family for their role in that.
“Marco and the entire De Simone family, your contribution to this project is immense and I want you to know, that you will forever have a legacy of true community building here in Aurora,” he said
The town opened the facility's doors to the public for the first time on Sept. 21.
