Lucille Roberts - Biography

Lucille Roberts (December 7, 1943 – July 17, 2003) was an American businesswoman and entrepreneur who founded the Lucille Roberts chain of health clubs. A self-proclaimed "exercise nut", she turned turned her passion for working out into a health club empire worth $30 million at the time of her death.

Early years

Born in 1943 near St. Petersburg, Russia, she and her family emigrated to the United States and settled in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University and was one of the first women to earn a degree from Harvard's OPM business school.

Career

In 1969 she and her husband opened a spa in midtown Manhattan next to Macy's. Her goal was to offer affordable exercise facilities geared towards women. Following confusion that it was an auto repair business she renamed it Lucille Roberts, eventually opening gyms in 50 other locations in the north eastern United States.

Roberts also wrote and published the books, Computercise and The Lucille Roberts 14 Day Makeover.

Death

A non-smoker Lucille Roberts died from lung cancer on July 17, 2003, aged 59, at a Manhattan hospital. She was survived by her husband, Bob Roberts and their two children, Kevin & Kirk Roberts.

External links

• Lucille Roberts (company) official website
• Lucille Roberts Blog
• Lucille Roberts Obituary
• Profile at www.aboutus.org