Weight Watchers icon Florine Mark dies aged 90 after opening more than a dozen franchises across the US and Canada following her own stunning body transformation
Michigan business icon and former owner of Weight Watchers, Florine Mark, has died at age 90 after opening more than a dozen franchises across the US and Canada.
The Weight Watchers pioneer, prominent businesswoman and philanthropist died ‘suddenly’ on Friday morning, said Sheri Mark, Florine’s eldest child FOX2.
Born in Detroit, Mark founded the Michigan Weight Watchers franchise in 1966 after her own beautiful body transformation of 50 pounds of weight loss.
She later led the franchise to expand to 17 states in the US, then Canada and Mexico.
“My heart really hurts it’s hard to believe,” said Sheri Mark. “My mother was larger than life.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement Friday: ‘Florine was a fearless trailblazer and devoted friend.’
Florine Mark (pictured in 2018) has died aged 90 after opening more than a dozen franchises across the US and Canada
After losing 50 pounds, Mark led the business to success and became the President and CEO of the largest franchise group of Weight Watchers
Mark built Michigan Weight Watchers, a small family business in 1966, into the largest franchise group of the company.
A leader in the local Jewish community for decades, Mark and was worried about her grandchildren and great-grandchildren caught in the middle of the Israel-Hamas war for the last few days of her life.
When asked if her mother would still be alive if the war had not taken place, Sheri responded with a definite ‘oh yeah, yeah’.
“It was very sudden — she wasn’t sick, she was the healthiest person I knew,” Sheri said. “It was pretty sudden.”
Governor Whitmer said Mark was “an incredibly savvy and successful businesswoman.”
“She was an icon and a leader who could encourage, empower, motivate and inspire individuals to achieve their goals and be their best selves,” Whitmer continued.
“I am grateful to have known Florine, and I know that her memory will serve as an example for Michiganders to follow. My love goes to Florine’s family.’
She founded the Michigan Weight Watchers franchise in 1966 after her own beautiful body transformation
Governor Gretchen Whitmer said Mark was “an incredibly savvy and successful businesswoman
Mark served on the Women’s Leadership Council at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government
US Sen. Debbie Stabenow called Mark “a leader in so many wonderful ways – in business, in Detroit, in the Jewish community, as a role model for women and as the matriarch of a close and loving family.”
Mark lost 50 pounds after seeking help at a Weight Watchers chapter in New York and went on to found the Michigan Weight Watchers franchise in 1966.
After leading the small family business to success. she became the president and CEO of the largest franchise group of Weight Watchers.
She sold the Weight Watcher franchises in Michigan, Ontario and Canada to Weight Watchers International two years ago.
Mark served on the Women’s Leadership Council at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and was chairman of the Detroit branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, according to the Detroit Historical Society.
Mark, a longtime supporter of Israel, tells WXYZ-TV Wednesday that he was worried about his family living in Israel, some of whom have been called up to fight in the IDF.
Mark lost 50 pounds after seeking help at a Weight Watchers chapter in New York and founded the Michigan Weight Watchers franchise in 1966
The long-term leader of the local Jewish community was worried about her families caught up in the Israel-Hamas war
“I’m terribly scared,” Mark told the station. “I’m afraid of the Israeli people, I’m afraid of my children and my grandchildren, I’m afraid of the Palestinians. I don’t want war – I want peace.’
Mark returned from Israel three weeks ago for the wedding of a relative, who is now fighting in the IDF.
“They came home and we threw them an engagement party here,” Mark said Wednesday, looking at a photo of herself with Mataan and Mataan’s new wife.
“He was drafted into a special unit and he’s fighting now, and his new bride is volunteering.”
“His grandfather was in the IDF, his father was in the IDF and he felt this was his legacy.”
In the Detroit area, Mark’s ‘Ask Florine’ and ‘Remarkable Women’ broadcast television and radio segments were popular.
She was passionate about her latest project, her widely popular podcast ‘Today’s Takeaway’ at the time of her death.
“She gave her time and philanthropic time to many organizations. She was a trailblazer with women, she recently received an award Friday night,” Sheri said. “This is a great loss for our family.”