American businessman
Donald Nicholas Pritzker (October 31, 1932 – May 6, 1972) was an American entrepreneur and businessman. He was a member of the Pritzker family and served as the president of Hyatt, where he helped grow the hotel chain.
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]
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]
