Ben Weider, Bodybuilder
Canadian born Ben Weider passed away on Friday, October 17, 2008 in Montreal at the age of 85. Weider was famous for making bodybuilding a worldwide sport. His expertise have been credited with launching Arnold Schwarzenegger’s body building career in the U.S.
Weider was able to take his love for bodybuilding into a billion-dollar business by developing supplements, building gyms and creating the magazine “Muscle & Fitness.” Along with his brother Joe, he also founded the International Brotherhood of Body Builders. It was through this organization that Weider brought Schwarzenegger from Austria to the states. Schwarzenegger continued to be friends with Ben and followed his work.
On Monday, October 20 Ben Weider was honored by hundreds at his funeral. Rabbi Alan Bright gave a eulogy in which he said of Weider, he was “one of those rare individuals who succeed in creating an atmosphere, an aura about them that sets them apart. Ben’s life was full and his years crowded with achievements that touched all kinds of people.”
Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ben Weider, body builders, celebrity death