Robert Pritikin

1929 - 2022

Robert Pritikin
May 6, 1929 - February 13, 2022

Advertising superstar, hotelier, author, musician, entertainer, illusionist, and hobgoblin of San Francisco's social scene departed the world stage, peacefully in February at a San Rafael senior community. He leaves behind a kaleidoscopic legacy of extraordinary achievements and indelible memories for the legion of people whose lives he touched with his genius, generosity, wit, and zany humor.
Bob, as he was known to all, was raised in Chicago and–as he often quipped–lowered in Los Angeles. Born in 1929, in the Windy City, the family moved to L.A when he was a pre teen. Bob was showing signs of entrepreneurship and a gift with words at an early age. Starting with a paper route, he graduated to selling door-to-door subscriptions for the LA Times and Examiner. As a young man, he founded and edited "Teenager Magazine," and acquired a masterful skill at in-home demonstrations and salesmanship for the Fuller Brush Company and on the floor of Leeds Shoes in Hollywood. Bob attended UCLA, where he competed in gymnastics and was president of his fraternity; graduating in 1952 with a bachelor's degree in advertising.
After a tour of duty with the U.S. Coast Guard, Bob moved to New York–the epicenter of U.S. advertising at that time. There, he was hired by Young & Rubicam ad agency. Starting in the mail room, he was soon writing copy and his career in advertising was formally launched.
Bob was a visionary and a dreamer but he was also a pragmatist, and heeded Horace Greeley's advice: that if he were to attain his ultimate goal, the west coast would be the ideal place to live, work and make his mark. By then, San Francisco had become the Mecca for creative advertising talent. On arrival in 1958, Bob joined Fletcher, Richards, Calkins & Holden ad agency. Soon thereafter, Louise, a receptionist that he had met at Y&R, followed him and they were married on New Year's Day 1959.
In the years that followed, Bob created publicity, copy, commercials and campaigns for some of the country's most prestigious companies and organizations, working at three of the city's top creative shops: Harris, Harlan, Wood; Daly Associates; and Campbell-Ewald. The next big career step was partnering with seasoned advertising executive, Jerry Gibbons, to form the creative, boutique agency, Pritikin Gibbons Communications. The agency was an overnight sensation. It came as little surprise to those in advertising and business circles when it was announced that Bob and Jerry's agency had been purchased by America's oldest ad agency, N.W. Ayer.
As might be expected of one with Bob's drive, imagination and audacity, grass stood no chance underneath his nimble shoes. His next venture would shock all who knew him and, by now, that included many of San Francisco's mover and shakers, politico's and the press: he bought a sixteen-room, Queen Anne property in one of the city's fanciest neighborhoods and transformed it into an hotel, fittingly called The Mansion. As a luxury bed & breakfast, it soon became one of the city's most chic places to stay, attracting guests such as Barbra Streisand, Robin Williams, Robert Kennedy Jr. and Carrie Fisher. Bob entertained guests in the evenings, playing piano and the musical saw, with hits such as "The last time I sawed Paris' and "Moonlight Sawnata." Bob introduced the spooky legend of Claudia Chambers into the show, and the Mansion Magic Concert was born. The consummate entertainer, Bob performed stage illusions and up-close magic, while the ghost of Claudia would play audience requests from an empty-seated piano; all accompanied by a non-stop hilarious and droll commentary by Pritikin.
After many months of 24/7 commitment to the hotel, Bob was at his Clay street bachelor pad with his dog. What next?
Through a mutual friend, Bob struck up a friendship with another San Francisco ad man, Tony Eglin. An unexpected call from Bob resulted in a lunch meeting. By the time they'd finished coffee, a handshake deal was consummated: they would start up a creative-only ad agency. Headquartered at Bob's "Playboy" digs in Pacific Heights, Pritikin Eglin Productions was an immediate success and continued for the next eight years, creating top-of-the-mind awareness advertising and public relations for U.S. and international clientele.
As stylish and architecturally dramatic as Clay Street was, Bob was hankering for marbled halls, a larger, more impressive home that would also house the agency. In 1981 a rare property came on the market that would make his dream come true. Almost the size of a city lot, the largest private property in the City, the site of an old French laundry, he purchased it on sight and proceeded to design and build his 10,000 sq. ft. mansion, he named Chenery House. Every Labor day, for several years, Bob hosted the grandest and wackiest party the city has ever known, where upwards of 800 friends, half of City Hall, local celebs, socialites, and free spirits packed the sprawling grounds, feasting from tables heaped with barbecued food, being entertained on stage by the likes of Carol Channing, Mickey Rooney, Tammy Faye Bakker, Liberace, and Bob Weir. Chenery House was the ultimate event venue for numerous fundraisers.
Beneath all the brilliance, the showmanship, acumen and talent, was another side of Bob: his open heart, generosity and caring for others. Over his lifetime in San Francisco, he made countless contributions to charitable organizations, supporting many causes, including AIDS, Lighting the Palace of Fine Arts, the SF Ballet, and the Museum of Modern Art. Over time, many pro bono projects were accepted by his agencies, including design and PR for a fund-raising concert performed by Pavarotti, in aid of victims of the 1981 Italian earthquake. Unknown to many, as a professor, he also taught a 10-week course on advertising at San Francisco State College.
Bob is survived by his daughter, Tracy Pore; brother, Jimmy Linick; niece Terri Nasshan; his former wife, Louise Pritikin; grandchildren, Jennifer Louise Pore, Robert James Pore (Tracy & David Pore) and Oliver Scott Garrard Pritikin (Elise Papazian-Pritikin); and great grandchild, Calliope Quinn Toole. Bob was predeceased by his son, Scott Garrard Pritikin.