Donald Pritzker
Donald Pritzker | |
|---|---|
| Born | Donald Nicholas Pritzker October 31, 1932 |
| Died | May 6, 1972 (aged 39) |
| Alma mater | B.A. Harvard University J.D. University of Chicago |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | President of the Hyatt Corporation |
| Spouse |
Sue Sandel (m. 1958) |
| Children | Penny Pritzker Anthony Pritzker Jay Robert Pritzker |
| Parent | Abram Nicholas Pritzker (father) |
| Relatives | See Pritzker family |
Donald Nicholas Pritzker (October 31, 1932 – May 6, 1972) was an American entrepreneur, businessman. He is a member of the Pritzker family and served as the president of Hyatt, where he helped grow the hotel chain.
He is the father of J.B., Anthony and Penny Pritzker.
Early life and education
Pritzker was born to a Jewish family[1] in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Fanny (née Doppelt) and A. N. Pritzker. He had two older brothers: Jay Pritzker (1922–1999) and Robert Pritzker (1926–2011).[2] Pritzker studied at the Francis W. Parker School, and graduated with a B.A. from Harvard University as well as a J.D. from the law school at the University of Chicago.[3]
Career
In 1961, after he graduated from law school, he went to work for the family company, the Marmon Group.[4] His elder brother Jay Pritzker assigned him the task of managing the Hyatt Hotel chain.[4] Donald moved to Atherton, California and went about developing the chain and soon became Hyatt's president. In 1967, the Pritzkers bought a newly built hotel in downtown Atlanta out of bankruptcy which had an unusual design consisting of a 21-story atrium lobby with external glass elevators, fountains, and caged tropical birds. Donald renamed it the Hyatt Regency Atlanta; it became an instant success and served as the architectural model for all future Hyatt hotels.[4]
Donald was credited with "setting the tone for the culture and philosophy at Hyatt" and presided over its growth from a six hotel chain to the 5th largest hotel chain in the world at the time of his death.[4]
Personal life
On June 10, 1958, Donald Pritzker married Sue Sandel (1932–1982),[5] daughter of Albert L. Sandel (1902–1967) and Dorothy J. Craig (1904–1998).[6] She also studied at the Francis W. Parker School and graduated from Radcliffe College.[6] They had three children:[4]
- Penny Pritzker (born 1959), the 38th United States Secretary of Commerce[7]
- Anthony Pritzker (born 1961), managing partner of the Pritzker Group.[8][9]
- Jay Robert Pritzker (born 1965), managing partner of the Pritzker Group and Governor of Illinois.[10] and the 512th richest person in the world.[10]
Death
Pritzker died in 1972 at age 39 of a heart attack while playing tennis at a Hyatt hotel in Honolulu.[4][11] His wife died 10 years later in an accident at age 49.[5]
References
- ^ The Economist: "Jay Pritzker, pioneer of the modern hotel chain, died on January 23rd, aged 76" January 28, 1999
- ^ New York Times: "Jay Pritzker, Who Built Chain Of Hyatt Hotels, Is Dead at 76" By ANTHONY RAMIREZ January 25, 1999
- ^ Chicago Magazine: "Tremors in the Empire" By Shane Tritsch December 2002
- ^ a b c d e f Los Angeles Times: "Rooms With a View : Chance Encounter Led to Creation of Rapidly Expanding Hyatt Hotels Chain' by NANCY RIVERA BROOKS November 24, 1987
- ^ a b Chicago Tribune: "Mishap kills Sue Pritzker, widow of Hyatt Hotel founder, at age 49"[permanent dead link] May 8, 1982
- ^ a b Ancestry.com Wedding Announcement
- ^ Jewish Daily Forward: "Penny Pritzker, Jewish Hotel Heiress, Tapped for Commerce Job – Mike Froman Gets Trade Representative Nod" May 2, 2013
- ^ BusinessWeek profile
- ^ Milken Institute biography
- ^ a b Forbes Magazine Staff (September 2014). "Jay Robert (J.B.) Pritzker". Forbes Magazine. Retrieved 2015-01-06.
- ^ Times, Special To The New York (9 May 1972). "DONALD N. PRITZKER". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- American billionaires
- American people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent
- Hyatt people
- Businesspeople from Chicago
- Pritzker family
- 1932 births
- 1972 deaths
- Harvard University alumni
- 20th-century American businesspeople
- People from Atherton, California
- University of Chicago Law School alumni
- Philanthropists from Illinois
- 20th-century American philanthropists
- 20th-century American Jews