Florine Mark, the former president of the Weight Watchers Group, died early Friday morning, her family confirmed to multiple media outlets.
No cause of death has been announced. Mark was 90 years old.
Her death was first reported by CBS Detroit, and came just a day after the network interviewed Mark, a prominent Jewish leader in the area, about the war in Israel. According to CBS, Mark had recently traveled to Israel, where she has three generations of family.
Mark’s desire for the ongoing war, according to CBS Detroit: Peace.
“I don’t want to see the Palestinians who are living in the Gaza Strip who are not part of Hamas; I don’t want to see them hurt,” Mark said, according to the network. “Israel wants to make peace. And I know there are many Palestinians that want peace, too.”
In Michigan, Mark has served on the boards of organizations such as the Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit, the United Jewish Fund and the Jewish Women’s Foundation.
Mark established Weight Watchers in Michigan in 1976 at Seven Mile and Greenfield in Detroit. She built Weight Watchers Group into the largest franchisee for the national WW International Inc. She also operated franchises in 14 states, Canada and Mexico.
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But the COVID-19 pandemic was disastrous for Weight Watchers. Mark was forced to close nearly 40% of her operations. She sold her franchises back to WW International in 2021 for an undisclosed amount.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called Mark a “fearless trailblazer and devoted friend.”
“An incredibly savvy and successful businesswoman, she was just as committed to giving back, working with the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit Institution for Children, Women of Tomorrow and other organizations,” Whitmer said in a statement. “She was an icon and a leader who could encourage, empower, motivate, and inspire individuals to achieve their goals and be their best selves.
“I am grateful to have known Florine, and I know her memory will serve as an example for Michiganders to follow,” Whitmer added. “My love goes to Florine’s family.”
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson took to the social media site X (formerly Twitter) to react to the loss.
“Woke up to this heartbreaking news. Florine was the ultimate Woman from Michigan, blazing a trail and mentoring all of us,” Benson wrote. “She embraced everyone as family and was able to bring people together like no other. Her final statement was a call for peace. May we all honor her life with our commitment to that shared mission.”
