Basic Information
| Full Name | Wendy Susan Durst Kreeger |
|---|---|
| Birth & Family | Raised in Scarsdale, New York; daughter of Seymour Durst and socialite Bernice Durst |
| Education | Scarsdale High School; Skidmore College; Washington Square College of Arts & Science (NYU) |
| Marriage | Douglas Allen Kreeger (m. 1968, Plaza Hotel Terrace Room) |
| Primary Roles | Philanthropist, Writer, Historical Collection Director |
| Affiliation | Durst Organization (Director); Durst Family Foundation |
Early Life and Family Heritage
Born into one of New York’s most influential real estate dynasties, Wendy Durst Kreeger grew up surrounded by both privilege and civic responsibility. Her father, Seymour Durst, built a reputation as a visionary developer, while her mother, Bernice Durst, presided over the family’s social engagements until her untimely death in 1950. Wendy’s childhood in Scarsdale was marked by both grandeur and philanthropy, instilling in her an early appreciation for history and community service.
Education and Marriage
Wendy graduated from Scarsdale High School before pursuing liberal arts studies at Skidmore College. She later transferred to Washington Square College of Arts & Science at New York University, where she deepened her knowledge of archival research and art history. In 1968, Wendy married Douglas Allen Kreeger in a star-studded ceremony at the Plaza Hotel’s Terrace Room. Her husband’s background in instructional program development for Random House and later outdoor retail provided a complementary balance to Wendy’s archival passions.
Career and Philanthropy
Though Wendy served as a director at the family-run Durst Organization, her true vocation emerged in safeguarding her father’s assemblage of New York history ephemera—over 10,000 books, newspapers, postcards, and photographs known as the Old York Library. From 2010 to 2014, she orchestrated the painstaking relocation of this collection to a climate-controlled facility on the City University of New York campus, ensuring scholar access and long-term preservation.
Parallel to her archival work, Wendy has been a driving force within the Durst Family Foundation. Under her guidance, the foundation has dispersed grants exceeding $2 million to urban renewal projects, public schools, and cultural preservation initiatives. In 2024 alone, the foundation committed $700,000 toward new literacy programs in underserved Bronx neighborhoods, solidifying Wendy’s reputation as a hands-on philanthropist.
Timeline of Major Achievements
| Year | Milestone | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Inherited family responsibilities after Seymour Durst’s passing | Stepped into leadership roles at Durst Organization and Foundation |
| 2010–2014 | Relocated Old York Library to CUNY | Secured public access and preservation of historical collection |
| 2018 | Oversaw $700,000 in grants to Bronx literacy programs | Enhanced educational resources for underserved youth |
| 2021–Present | Active in family trust and guardianship legal proceedings | Defending philanthropic vision while navigating complex estate matters |
Public Image and Influence
Unlike her high-profile brothers—real estate magnate Douglas Durst and the reclusive Robert Durst—Wendy maintains a deliberately low public profile. Within philanthropic circles, however, she commands respect for her meticulous stewardship of cultural heritage projects and her strategic grant-making. Colleagues laud her combination of scholarly rigor and personal warmth, qualities that have elevated the Durst Family Foundation’s credibility among urban nonprofits and academic institutions alike.
Wendy’s influence extends to New York’s historical preservation community: she frequently lectures at symposiums, advising on best practices for archival relocation and digitization. Though she eschews social media, her commentary has appeared in The New York Times and Preservation magazine, further cementing her role as an authority on municipal heritage management.
Recent Legal Matters
In 2019, Wendy and her husband filed a guardianship petition over their son, Evan Kreeger, which sparked a public legal dispute in New York State Supreme Court. Evan contested the petition, asserting his autonomy and challenging the trustees’ suspension of trust distributions. As of mid-2025, the case remains under judicial consideration, drawing attention to the complexities of multi-generational wealth stewardship.
Simultaneously, Wendy’s leadership of the Durst Family Foundation has continued uninterrupted, with new bylaws approved in 2024 that enhance fiscal transparency and beneficiary outreach. These governance reforms underscore her commitment to aligning family legacy with contemporary philanthropic best practices.
Legacy and Future Outlook
Wendy Durst Kreeger’s legacy is twofold: the successful preservation of one of New York’s most significant private historical collections, and a revitalized philanthropic enterprise that channels Durst wealth into community uplift. As trustees finalize the Old York Library’s digitization project in late 2025, Wendy is poised to publish a companion volume detailing the collection’s origins and cultural significance.
Looking ahead, she plans to expand the Durst Family Foundation’s scope to include sustainable housing initiatives and arts education scholarships. Through these endeavors, Wendy continues to honor her parents’ vision—melding real estate foresight with social impact—and ensures that the Durst name remains synonymous with both urban development and civic responsibility.
FAQ
Who is Wendy Durst Kreeger?
Wendy Durst Kreeger is a philanthropist and writer, director of her father’s Old York Library collection, and a key figure in the Durst Family Foundation.
What is the Old York Library?
The Old York Library is Seymour Durst’s extensive assemblage of New York history books, newspapers, postcards, and photographs, now housed at CUNY for public access.
What philanthropic work does she lead?
Through the Durst Family Foundation, she has awarded millions in grants to literacy programs, urban renewal projects, and cultural preservation efforts.
Why is she involved in a guardianship case?
In 2019, Wendy and her husband petitioned for guardianship over their son Evan, leading to ongoing trust-distribution disputes in New York State Supreme Court.
Where can I learn more about Bernice Durst?
For a detailed account of Wendy’s mother, see the biography of Bernice Durst, an American socialite whose life profoundly influenced the Durst family legacy.
