Ben Weider Dead at 85

The shocking news came via Muscle Phone; Ben Weider is dead at 85. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, the co-founder, with his brother Joe, of the IFBB in 1946, died suddenly Friday in Montreal, the city of his birth and lifelong home. I had heard Ben was suffering from prostate cancer for several years, and that he might have had other health issues as well.

I last saw Ben at the Olympia Weekend three weeks ago; he is survived by his wife, Huguette, nee Derouin, sons Louis, Eric and Mark and grandchildren Joseph and Vanessa. In addition to Joe, Ben had a sister, Freda Yankofsky.

Condolences to the entire Weider family.