Robert Pritzker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Pritzker
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|---|---|
| Born |
Robert Alan Pritzker
June 30, 1926 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | October 27, 2011 (aged 85) |
| Alma mater | Illinois Institute of Technology |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouse(s) |
Audrey Gilbert
(m. 1979, divorced)Irene Dryburgh
(m. 1980; div. 1989)Sao Mayari Sargent
(m. 1994) |
| Children |
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| Parent(s) | Abram Nicholas Pritzker (father) |
| Relatives | Pritzker family |
Robert Alan Pritzker (born June 30, 1926 – died October 27, 2011) was an American businessman. He was part of the very successful and well-known Pritzker family.
Contents
Robert Pritzker's Life Story
Robert Pritzker was born in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were Fanny (née Doppelt) and A.N. Pritzker. He had two brothers, Donald Pritzker and Jay Pritzker.
Robert studied at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). He earned a degree in industrial engineering in 1946. This field helps make businesses and factories work better and more efficiently. Later, in 1984, IIT gave him an honorary doctorate degree.
He also taught classes at IIT at night. He joined the university's board of trustees in 1962. This board helps guide the university's decisions. He also taught business classes at the University of Chicago. In these classes, students learned about real business deals he was involved in.
Building The Marmon Group
Robert Pritzker started a company called The Marmon Group. This company grew into a large international group of manufacturing and service businesses. These businesses make many different products. Marmon's assets, or things it owns, made up a big part of the Pritzker family's wealth.
Robert's success came from his special way of running businesses. He trusted his employees to make important decisions on their own. This was different from how many other companies worked. Giving employees more freedom helped them be more creative. It also made the businesses faster and more productive. Robert Pritzker also spent a year as the Chairman of the National Association of Manufacturers.
Later Business Ventures
In 2002, Robert Pritzker stepped down as President of The Marmon Group. He then became the President of Colson Associates, Inc. This company owned businesses that made things like casters (the wheels on chairs), plastic parts, and medical tools. Some of these medical companies included Acumed and OsteoMed.
Robert Pritzker's Family and Interests
Robert Pritzker was married three times and had five children.
- His first wife was Audrey Gilbert. They divorced in 1979. They had three children:
- Jennifer Pritzker (born 1950) was a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army. She also started the Pritzker Military Library. Jennifer has three children.
- Linda Pritzker (born 1953) is a psychotherapist. She is also a Tibetan Buddhist lama, which is a spiritual teacher.
- Karen Pritzker Vlock (born 1958) is married to an investor named Michael Vlock.
- His second wife was Irene Dryburgh. They met in Australia and were married from 1980 to 1989. They had two children:
- Matthew Pritzker (born 1982) is a businessman in real estate. He also owned a pizza company and a film company.
- Liesel Pritzker Simmons (born 1984) was a child actress. She starred in the movie A Little Princess. She also played the U.S. President's daughter in the film Air Force One. Liesel co-founded the IDP Foundation with her mother. This foundation helps create new programs for education.
- His third wife was Sao Mayari Sargent. They married in 1994.
Robert Pritzker was known for being humble. Even though his family owned a private jet, he preferred to fly in the coach section of commercial planes. He believed in leading by example. He once said, "If I ask my managers to go coach how can I go first class? That's leadership."
In 1983, Robert Pritzker received the Golden Plate Award. This award is given by the American Academy of Achievement.
Robert Pritzker's nephew, J. B., was elected Governor of Illinois in 2018.
