David Shakarian

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

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.^[2] By 1984, he operated 1,200 stores in the United States and Canada and made 2,000 health products.^[2]

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]

Shakarian married Lois M. Vinton on June 16, 1941.^[4][2] They had twin daughters.^[2] He had a heart attack in 1969.^[2] 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.^[2][3] His widow remarried twice and died in 2002.^[6]

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]