(WWJ) - Florine Mark, the former president of the Weight Watchers Group and a trailblazer for women in business, died on Friday, according to her family.
Mark, who was born on January 31, 1933 in Detroit, passed away at 90. The cause of her death is not known at this time and no other information has been released.
Mark is best known for her ownership of the Weight Watchers franchise in Michigan, which was once the largest in the country. On Oct. 6, she was honored at the Marriott Renaissance Center for a lifetime of work of making an impact on women worldwide.
She was celebrated as a prominent leader in Metro Detroit's Jewish community and served as a board member for many philanthropic organizations, including the Jewish Community Center of Metro Detroit, the Jewish Federation of North America, Jewish Federation and United Jewish Foundation of Metro Detroit, Business Leaders for Michigan (formerly Detroit Renaissance), Henry Ford Health System Foundation, Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government Women's Leadership Board.
Mark worked in a male-dominated environment for most of her career, often as the only women in a room full of men.
As told by the Jewish Historical Society in Michigan, Mark was once denied a loan for $5,000 to start a business in her earlier days simply because she was a women.
"She refused to ask for a male sponsor but talked her backers into trusting her skills," the JHSM recounted. "She obtained the money and proved they were right in backing her."
Mark established the first Weight Watchers franchise in Michigan back in 1966. Under her guidance, she became one of the largest franchise holders of Weight Watchers International with over 4,000 employees -- most of which were women.
Mark always elevated and supported her fellow businesswomen on her weekly radio show on WNIC called Remarkable Women. She also appeared on a highly popular "Ask Florine" segment that aired on WDIV. Mark is also the author of the book, Talk to the Mirror, and was a podcast host for "Today's Takeaway with Florine Mark."
In speaking with the JHSM, Mark said keeping herself immersed in her family, her business, her community has kept her "forever young."
"I do not talk about years. I talk about days. Each day is measured in what I can do and what I am grateful for," Mark stated.
