David Shakarian

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David Shakarian
BornFebruary 27, 1914
DiedSeptember 11, 1984 (aged 70)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
OccupationBusinessman
Spouse(s)Lois M. Vinton (1941-1984)
Children2

David B. Shakarian (February 27, 1914 – September 11, 1984) was an American businessman. He was the founder, chief executive officer and chairman of GNC.

Early life[]

David B. Shakarian was born on February 27, 1914,[2] to Armenian parents, the owner of a store where they sold "yogurt, buttermilk and Bulgarian cultured milk."[1] He had a brother, Bart Shakarian.[1]

A GNC store

Career[]

Shakarian turned his family health store into GNC, a chain of stores which sold vitamins and fitness products. He served as its chairman and chief executive officer.[1] By 1984, he operated 1,200 stores in the United States and Canada and made 2,000 health products.[1]

Shakarian spearheaded the development of Bonita Bay, a 2,400-acre residential facility in Bonita Springs, Florida, for $1.1 billion.[3] However, by the time of his death, the project was only expected to be completed two decades later.[3]

Personal life and death[]

Shakarian married Lois M. Vinton on June 16, 1941.[4][1] They had twin daughters.[1] He had a heart attack in 1969.[1] He resided in the Gateway Towers, a residential skyscraper in Pittsburgh, and maintained another property in Marco Island, Florida.[5]

Shakarian died of cancer on September 11, 1984.[1][3] His widow remarried twice and died in 2002.[6]

Dispute over will[]

A year after Shakarian's death, his brother, who was also GNC's vice chairman, and GNC's former president Gary Daum, sued over the validity of the will.[5] They argued that Shakarian "was not mentally competent to understand the nature and extent of his estate."[5]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "FOUNDER OF FOOD CHAIN DIES". The New York Times. September 13, 1984. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  2. ^ "David Shakarian: United States Social Security Death Index". FamilySearch. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Christie, Rick (September 12, 1984). "David Shakarian dead; developer of Bonita Bay, health food leader". News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. p. 11. Retrieved October 27, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950". Family Search. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Piechowiak, Cynthia (June 26, 1985). "GNC founder's estate contested by 2 here". The Pittsburgh Press. pp. 1, 13. Retrieved October 27, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Lois Shakarian Blackburn". Legacy.com. Retrieved October 28, 2017.


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