End of an Era!
MONTREAL -- Ben Weider -- Canadian bodybuilder, businessman and
internationally-renowned Napoleonic scholar and philanthropist -- died
Friday at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal.
His death came six days before he was to inaugurate the permanent
gallery housing his multi-million dollar Napoleon collection at the
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
He was 85.
'In my home, 200 people a year see the collection. If I give it to the
museum, several thousand people will see it each week, and it will live
on," Ben Weider said.
'In my home, 200 people a year see the collection. If I give it to the
museum, several thousand people will see it each week, and it will live
on," Ben Weider said.
Weider published several books on Napoleon and contended that the French emperor was poisoned in exile on St. Helena.
In his more than sixty years of involvement in bodybuilding, as
Founding President of the International Federation of Body Builders
(I.F.B.B.). Weider and his older brother Joe anticipated, then led, the
worldwide fitness revolution and legitimized the sport of bodybuilding.
The I.F.B.B., founded by the Weiders in 1946, has 173 member national
federations worldwide and sanctions thousands of amateur and
professional competitive events.
"I don't know of anyone who, starting with nothing . . . did as much as
he did," said his biographer, Mike Steere. "To do what he did, to
accomplish what he did in face of poverty and prejudice, is nothing
short of heroic."
Ben Weider was born in Montreal Feb. 1, 1923, to Jewish Polish
immigrants. He and his brother Joe dropped out of grade school to
support the family. He worked in garment sweatshops and restaurants
before enlisting in the Canadian Army and serving during World War II.
Originally, Weider wanted to be an architect, but because he was Jewish
he was denied entry-level positions in Montreal architecture firms. He
worked with his brother Joe to put out a physique magazine and helped
him operate his mail-order business in weightlifting equipment.
Weider became the promoter and producer of physique contests and
travelled the world as an ambassador of bodybuilding, introducing the
sport overseas and organizing new national federations of the I.F.B.B.
In 1947, Joe moved to New Jersey, later moving the U.S. Weider
enterprises to Southern California, while Ben remained in Montreal.
Weider is survived by his wife, Huguette Derouin, and their three sons Louis, Eric, and Mark.
His funeral will be held Monday afternoon at Papermans and Sons funeral home in Montreal.