A self-proclaimed "exercise nut," she turned her passion for working out into a health club empire worth $30 million at the time of her death.
Since the young girl reminded her of the I Love Lucy television program, Laja's name was changed to Lucille.
Roberts' goal was to offer affordable exercise facilities geared towards women.
In response to the public's confusion that it was an auto repair business (the original name of the gym was The Body Shop), she renamed it Lucille Roberts, and eventually opened gyms in 50 other locations in the northeastern United States.
Roberts died from lung cancer on July 17, 2003, aged 59, at a Manhattan hospital.