Cindy Pritzker

Marian "Cindy" Pritzker (née Friend; December 15, 1923 – March 15, 2025) was an American philanthropist. She headed the Chicago Public Library board and co-founded the Pritzker Architecture Prize. As the wife of Jay Pritzker, the co-founder of Hyatt Hotels, she was the matriarch of the Pritzker family.

Early life, family, and education Pritzker was born on December 15, 1923 to Judge Hugo Friend, a Cook County circuit judge, and Sadie Cohn Friend. She grew up in Kenwood on the South Side of Chicago and attended Hyde Park High School.

Personal life

She married billionaire businessman Jay Pritzker, a founder of Hyatt, on August 31, 1947, and had five children, including Thomas Pritzker, John Pritzker, Daniel Pritzker, and Gigi Pritzker. She and her husband met as teenagers while vacationing at their families' lake houses in Eagle River, Wisconsin.

Pritzker was the aunt of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, whom she raised following the death of his father, Donald.

She died on March 15, 2025, at the age of 101, and was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie.

Legacy Cindy's Rooftop on Michigan Avenue is named after her. Pritzker Park on State Street was also named for her.