Funeral Details

Marian “Cindy” Friend Pritzker (1923–2025) Marian Friend Pritzker, known to the world as Cindy, passed away on March 15, 2025, at the age of 101. She was the beloved daughter of Judge Hugo and Sadie Friend and grew up on the South Side of Chicago. Cindy attended Hyde Park High School in Chicago and Grinnell College in Iowa. Cindy met Jay Pritzker in Eagle River Wisconsin when she was 13. Their families had houses on a lake near each other and their time there forged a bond that held them together for more than 60 years. Cindy and Jay were married on August 31, 1947, and remained together until Jay’s passing in 1999. They built a life filled with family, and a sense of fun and adventure. Cindy is survived by her four children—Tom, John, Dan, and Gigi — along with 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Cindy and Jay’s daughter Nancy passed away in 1972. From an early age, Cindy was known as the “tomboy” of her neighborhood, a spirited and fearless personality that remained with her throughout her life. Her father, Hugo Friend, was her hero, a respected judge whose most famous case was the 1919 Black Sox scandal. Cindy carried his strength and sense of justice into all she did. In addition to raising her family, Cindy was deeply engaged in civic initiatives focused primarily on Chicago. In the 1980s, she was appointed to the Board of the Chicago Public Library, leading the effort to establish a new central library which opened in 1991 as the Harold Washington Library. Concerned about sustainable government funding, she became the Founding Chair of the Chicago Public Library Foundation forging a partnership between the public and private sectors that still serves as the gold standard for such endeavors. Together with Jay, Cindy co-founded the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Believing that credibility was everything, they insisted that an independent jury choose the laureate without any involvement from family members. They then went about recruiting a world class jury. Now in its 48th year, the Pritzker Prize is widely regarded as the “Nobel Prize” of architecture. Cindy’s influence extended to Millennium Park, where she played a decisive role in commissioning Frank Gehry to design what would become the iconic Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Her unwavering belief in Gehry’s vision helped set a new design standard for the park and the city. Cindy touched the lives of many, serving as a role model for resilience, determination, and the power of laughter. She met challenges with unwavering resolve, bringing her energy and bold spirit to every endeavor. Her legacy lives on in the institutions she shaped, the city she loved, and the family she cherished. A private service will be held for family only. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chicago Public Library Foundation or the Nancy Pritzker Laboratory at Stanford University in Cindy’s honor. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com.