Florine Mark made it her mission to improve the lives of others.
While Florine Mark’s personal and professional accomplishments could fill several volumes, the principles that guided her remarkable life were straightforward and succinct. Help others. Put family first. Be kind. Love yourself. Make every day count.
A successful entrepreneur, fearless activist, dedicated communal leader, generous philanthropist and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, Florine passed away unexpectedly on Oct. 13, 2023, at her Farmington Hills home.
Best known for her role as President and CEO of several Weight Watchers International franchises (formerly The WW Group), Florine was born and raised in Northwest Detroit with her two sisters, Micki and (the late) Sondra, and a large extended family that lived in close proximity.
Her parents, the late Charles and Ruth Grossberg, were Polish immigrants of modest means, but they taught their daughters the importance of giving back and helping others, a tenet that Florine exemplified and passed on to her own children and grandchildren.
Creating her Weight Watchers Legacy
Florine struggled with her weight from an early age. She tried various fad diets over the years, losing weight but inevitably gaining it back. By the time she had five children, her self-esteem and her health were suffering. After reading about a new weight loss program, she traveled to Queens, New York, to attend classes held by Weight Watchers founder Jean Nidetch.
After the death of her first husband, Florine was the single mother of five children.
After losing 50 pounds on Weight Watchers by following a diet based on healthy food choices rather than starvation, she got a loan and established the first Weight Watchers program in Michigan. During weekly meetings in the basement of a Detroit synagogue, she shared her story and inspired other women who related to her struggle.
With her innate business savvy and entrepreneurial drive, she expanded throughout the Midwest, Canada and Mexico, eventually becoming the company’s largest franchise holder with more than 10,000 members and 4,200 employees.
Throughout her career, Florine earned many honorary degrees.
Despite her financial success, Florine found her greatest fulfillment in helping people adopt healthier lifestyles by incorporating better eating habits and more exercise.
“Her sense of purpose was all about people,” said her son-in-law Hannan Lis, who worked alongside Florine as chief operating officer (COO) of the Weight Watchers franchises. “She wanted every Weight Watchers member to succeed. She looked at the world as her stage to inspire, teach motivate and transform lives.”
Over the years, Florine’s family members played various roles in the business, including her mother, sisters, children and grandchildren.
A Tenacious Trailblazer
“She had an unwavering belief in herself and in other people,” said Rabbi Rachel Shere, who officiated the funeral service attended by more than 1,000 people at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills. “She kept believing in you until you saw in yourself what she saw in you.”
Florine’s book, written to help women feel better about themselves.
Refusing to acknowledge the proverbial “glass ceiling,” Florine pursued her goals fearlessly and steadfastly at a time when women were expected to be homemakers, not corporate executives.
“She created a powerful space for women; she gave us permission to be CEOs and mothers,” said granddaughter Alana Fisher.
Her impressive phone roster ranged from friends and family members to foreign dignitaries and high-ranking government officials in several countries, and she could solve the knottiest problem with a quick call to the right person.
Florine was an eternal optimist who maintained a positive attitude in the face of tough challenges, personal and professional. At 36, she was a widow and single parent of five children, but she never abandoned her goals or indulged in self-pity. She was a constant source of comfort and support for her sister, (the late) Sondra, who developed polio as a child.
She was not afraid to express strong opinions or stand up for what she believed in, and she encouraged her kids and grandchildren to do the same.
“She told me that every goal is a gamble, but anything is possible if you go out and get it,” said grandson Aviv Lis. “She was young in mind, body and soul. She never showed signs of slowing down.”
Family First
Last month, she traveled to Israel for the wedding of her grandson, Mataan, looking glamorous and dancing the night away.
In a video call from Israel, Mataan relayed some of the lessons he learned from his “Bubbie,” including treating everyone like the most important person in the world, helping others whenever possible and putting family first.
While Florine took pride in her extraordinary business successes, leadership roles and numerous honors, her greatest joy was her family. She embraced every member of her large, blended family, regardless of origin. She knew everything about every child, grandchild and great-grandchild and attended every milestone event.
“She made sure every family member knew how much she loved them; grandkids, nieces and nephews,” Aviv said.
Among Florine Mark’s proudest roles was “Bubbie.” She knew every single thing
about each grandchild and great-grandchild and attended every milestone event.
Of all the legacies she passed on, this was the most important. Throughout their lives, she and her sisters, Micki and Sondra, maintained the close relationship they developed as children.
“Her priority was always her family. I’ve continued that and made it my priority,” said daughter, Lisa Lis, a longtime supporter of numerous charitable causes in the U.S. and Israel, along with her husband, Hannan.
Florine encouraged her children to go beyond their perceived limits because she believed everyone had the potential to do more. While she expected a lot, she gave back more in return.
The most important things she instilled were the importance of family, community and tzedakah [charity],” said her daughter, Sheri. “She made a difference every day of her life, from saying hello to a stranger to donating money for a new hospital wing.”
Florine was a true fashionista with her own inimitable style and a laugh that came straight from her heart. She was the first to call family members and friends on their birthdays, and she ended every phone call, note and text with her hallmark, “Love, love, love.”
She enjoyed hosting dinners for family, friends and an ever-changing assortment of guests, where she would pass around a microphone and have each person introduce themselves and answer a random “get-to-know-you” question.
Florine Mark’s greatest joy was her big, blended family. Each family member
knew how much they were loved.
Her vacation home in Omena was her happy place, a haven for Florine and the countless friends and family members who joined her every summer to enjoy the lake and northern Michigan tranquility.
Her sudden death came as a shock because Florine never thought about death; she was too busy making the most of every moment of her incredibly full life.
“She loved life so much and people so much,” said Lisa.
Giving Back to the Community
Florine believed strongly in supporting the organizations in her community and elsewhere, especially those concerned with health and women’s rights. She served on numerous boards, including Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit Institute for Children, Business Leaders of Michigan, Detroit Regional Chamber, Henry Ford Health System, University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center, Women of Tomorrow, the Michigan Fitness Foundation, the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports and the Weizmann Institute of Science, among many others.
She was chair of the Detroit Branch of the Federal Reserve Board of Chicago and an elected member of the Women’s Leadership Board at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, where she helped women advance in national and international leadership and public policy.
Awards and Honors
Florine earned countless honors and awards for her dedicated service and valuable contributions to the community.
She received the Entrepreneurial Visionary Award from the Women’s Business Center and was the first recipient of Detroit Public Television’s Bravo! award. While circumstances prevented her from attending college, she has since earned honorary degrees from several Michigan universities.
She was among Crain’s Detroit Business 100 Most Influential Women in Detroit and one of the 50 Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World. She was the first woman inductee of the National Management Association’s Hall of Fame and the first female recipient of the Neil Shine Lifetime Achievement Award.
The week before she died, Florine received one of her greatest honors, the prestigious Women Who Make a Difference award from the International Women’s Forum.
Second Act
After selling her Weight Watchers franchises, she embarked on her “second act.” This included serving as a Weight Watchers ambassador, hosting her weekly wellness podcast “Today’s Takeaway with Florine Mark” and a weekly spot on WDIV-TV news called “Ask Florine.”
For many years, Florine did a segment on WDIV-TV focused on healthy eating and living.
For 20 years, proceeds from her annual “Remarkable Women” event helped support Michigan hospitals and cancer research devoted to women’s health issues.
She was also a sought-after motivational speaker on topics ranging from health and wellness to entrepreneurship. She wrote the inspiring book, Talk to the Mirror: Feel Great About Yourself Each and Every Day. More recently, she launched the “Remarkable YOU Motivational Tour.”
“My Bubbie was a feeling,” said Alana, “a feeling of love, family, compassion, excitement, togetherness, strength, bravery and unstoppable energy. She never slowed down.”
Florine Mark is survived by her children, Sheri (Dr. Abe Slaim) Mark, David Mark, Jeffrey (Linda Barnett) Mark, Dr. Richard (Krista Berman/Chris Mark) Mark, Lisa (Hannan) Lis, Jandy (Rob) Spiegelman and Lee (Lisa) Ross; grandchildren, Renee (Dan) Ruiz, Kevin (Eed) Dorn, Dr. Daniel (Dr. Nottasorn Plipat) Slaim, Melissa (Andy) Dyer, Ilyse Mark, Alexandra (fiancé, Isaac Polichio) Mark, Brianna (Noah) Stauss, Ilana (Jason) Fisher, Carly Mark, Paige (Michael) Colman, Ariella (Tzvi) Raviv, Liat (Kyle McGonegle) Lis, Mataan (Yael) Lis, Aviv Lis, Maxwell Spiegelman, Zoey (Kyle) Hernden, Dr. Ishai (Elinor) Ross, Jamila (Beau Brown) Ross-Brown and Chaira (Jens Helwig) Ross; great-grandchildren, Sophie, Elinor, Peace, Happy, Miya, Naphtali, Alicia, Gavin, Sawyer, Georgia Lee, Coco, Sebastian, Hadassa, Yehudit, Harel, Michelle, Danielle, Emma, Abby and Ezra; sister, Dr. Micki Berg; nieces and nephews, Adam (Vanessa Pita) Berg, Joshua (Tisha) Berg, Jeremy (Jennifer) Berg, Seth (Lorelei) Berg, Rachel Berg, and Elizabeth (David Vogler) Berg; and dedicated staff members, Connie, Maya, Denise, Lottie, Hunter, George, Ardit, David, Dennis, Sheryl, Margaret, Carrie, Carlos and Karla.
Florine was also the devoted sister of the late Sondra Berlin; the dear daughter of the late Charles and Ruth Grossberg, the beloved wife of the late Irving Mark and the late Dr. Bill Ross and the loving companion of the late Donald Benyas.
Interment was at Hebrew Memorial Park. Contributions honoring the memory of Florine Mark may be made to North Star Reach, 1200 University Camp Drive, Pinckney, MI, 48169, (734) 647-0448, http://northstarreach.org; Friends of the IDF, Michigan Chapter, P.O. Box 999, Walled Lake, MI, 48390, (248) 926-4110,
www.fidf.org/donate or a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by the Ira Kaufman Chapel.
Credit:Source link
