America’s most famous personality dies at her home in Manhattan
Ruth Westheimer, famously known as Dr. Ruth, has passed away at the age of 96. Dr. Ruth was a renowned educator on sex and relationships, known for her candid and honest advice on her radio show, which made her a household name and a star in her own right.
Early Life and Career
Born in Germany in 1928, Dr. Ruth was Jewish and lived through World War II, narrowly escaping the Holocaust before moving to the United States as a teenager. She often attributed her positive view of sex to the hardships she faced in her youth.
Dr. Ruth began her career in the 1980s, answering mailed-in questions from radio listeners about sex and relationships. She was in her 50s at the time. Over the years, she wrote more than 40 books, many of which were how-to guides on health and sexuality, discussing topics that most doctors still shy away from.
Legacy and Influence
Dr. Ruth’s influence extended beyond her radio show. She had a regular column in Playgirl magazine and even lent her name to an educational board game and a computer game. College students admired her, and her campus visits were often major events.
Her face soon appeared in commercials and small roles in popular TV shows and movies. She had a notable part in the French film One Woman or Two (1985), starring Gérard Depardieu and Sigourney Weaver, which was released in the US in 1987.
Unique Approach
Dr. Ruth was famous for her unique approach to therapy and her views on relationships and sex. At a time when sexual relations were often discussed in very medical terms or behind closed doors, she brought the conversation into the open. Her small stature (4 feet 7 inches), wry smile, and light accent made her even more memorable.
Some of her most famous quotes include:
- “Making your partner happy is the most important thing in sex. If you don’t, it’s bad for both of you.”
- “Don’t waste your time with bad sex.”
- “Sexuality should be celebrated, not hidden or shamed.”
- “Sexual pleasure is the most wonderful thing in the world.”
Personal Life
Born Karola Ruth Siegel in Wiesenfeld, Germany, on June 4, 1928, she was the only child of Julius and Irma Siegel, both Orthodox Jews. Her early life was marked by the worsening treatment of Jews in Germany. In 1938, the Nazis took her father, and her family sent her to an orphanage in Switzerland, where she faced mistreatment. It is believed that her parents and grandparents died in Auschwitz.
Dr. Ruth moved to Israel and married her first husband, but the marriage didn’t last long. She later married a Frenchman and had a child with him, but that marriage also ended. In the 1950s, she moved to New York City and finally met her match in telecommunications engineer Manfred Westheimer.
Dr. Ruth’s legacy as a pioneer in sexual education and her impact on countless lives will be remembered fondly. 🌟❤️📚
