Lippert, Felice Marks

▪ 2004

      American businesswoman (b. 1929, New York, N.Y.—d. Feb. 22, 2003, Manhasset, N.Y.), with her husband and Jean Nidetch, cofounded Weight Watchers, one of the most successful weight-loss organizations in the world. In 1963 Lippert and her husband, Albert, invited Nidetch, who taught a diet program in her home, to come to the Lipperts' home and teach the program to them and some of their friends. When the Lipperts found that they successfully lost weight, they joined with Nidetch and her husband, Marty, to turn the program into a business. They began holding meetings in public places and charging membership fees; soon they trademarked the Weight Watchers name, patented the method, and began selling franchises. When the company went public in 1968, it was operating 91 franchises in 43 states. Lippert was a director and vice president of Weight Watchers International until the H.J. Heinz Co. acquired it in 1978; she continued to be chairman of the Weight Watchers Foundation.

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