OCTOBER 26 • 2023 | 11
J
N

W

hile 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 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. 
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 

continued on page 12

OUR COMMUNITY
COVER STORY

TOP TO BOTTOM: After the 
death of her first husband, 
Florine was the single mother 
of five children. Throughout her 
career, Florine earned many 
honorary degrees. 
FACING PAGE: Florine Mark 
never slowed down from her 
work, as a businesswoman, 
mother, grandmother, great-
grandmother and inspirational 
icon of the Detroit Jewish 
community.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE FAMILY

