Donald Pritzker | |
---|---|
Born |
Donald N. Pritzker October 31, 1932 Chicago, Illinois |
Died | May 6, 1972 Honolulu, Hawaii |
(aged 39)
Nationality | United States |
Alma mater | B.A. Harvard University J.D. University of Chicago |
Occupation | Businessman |
Known for | President of the Hyatt Corporation |
Spouse(s) | Sue Sandel (m. 1958; his death 1972) |
Children |
Penny Pritzker Anthony Pritzker Jay Robert Pritzker |
Parent(s) |
Abram Nicholas Pritzker Fanny Doppelt |
Donald N. Pritzker (October 31, 1932 – May 6, 1972) was an American entrepreneur, businessman, and member of the wealthy Pritzker family.
Pritzker was born to a Jewish family 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). Pritzker studied at the Francis W. Parker School and graduated with a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from the law school at the University of Chicago.
In 1961, after he graduated from law school, he went to work for the family company, the Marmon Group. His elder brother Jay Pritzker assigned him the task of managing the Hyatt Hotel chain. 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.
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.
On June 10, 1958, Donald Pritzker married Sue Sandel (1932–1982), daughter of Albert L. Sandel (1902–1967) and Dorothy J. Craig (1904–1998). She also studied at the Francis W. Parker School and graduated from Radcliffe College. They had three children: