Jean Evelyn Nidetch ( née Slutsky , October 12 , 1923 -- April 29 , 2015 ) was the cofounder of the Weight Watchers organization .
Jean Nidetch ( born Jean Evelyn Slutsky , October 12 , 1923 -- April 29 , 2015 ) was an American businesswoman . She was the co-founder of the Weight Watchers organization .