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