She was born as Leona Mindy Rosenthal in Marbletown NY, and raised in Brooklyn. Before her involvement with Harry Helmsley, she was married three times. Once to attorney Leo Panzirer, by whom she had a son, her only child (who predeceased her), and twice to garment industry magnate Joseph Lubin.

She was convicted of tax-fraud and received 18 years, but got out in 16 months. She sat at a Country Club called Danbury.