Legendary Sex Therapist Dr. Ruth Has Died At Age 96
The world has lost a pop culture icon and a legendary sex therapist. Dr. Ruth Westheimer died at her home in New York City on Friday at the age of 96.
According to her publicist and friend, Pierre Lehu, she was surrounded by her family at the time of her passing. No cause of death has been made public at this time.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 29: Bill Clinton and Dr. Ruth look on during the Women's Singles First Round match between Serena Williams of the United States and Danka Kovinic of Montenegro on Day One of the 2022 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2022 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)
The 4-foot-7 woman was born in Germany in 1928, survived the Holocaust, moved to the United States in 1956, and became a star with her straightforward approach to the topic of sex.
Dr. Ruth's rise to pop culture icon status started in 1980 when she was 52-years-old. Her radio show, Sexually Speaking, debuted on WYNY-FM in New York City.
She would answer the questions of listeners who called in. The show spread by word of mouth and eventually became nationally syndicated. From there, she made her way to TV where she hosted several shows throughout the 80s and 90s.
Legendary Sex Therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer Will Be Missed
Dr. Ruth was a regular on the late night talk show circuit and wrote more than 40 books during her lengthy career. Just last year she was appointed as New York State's "Ambassador of Loneliness."
She was a legend in every sense of the word. Would there be a True Romance with SeanJo without Dr. Ruth? That's hard to say.
She certainly paved the way for those of us hopeless romantics who don't mind taking a deep dive into the unusual when it comes to love and relationships. She was willing to and often went where others before her wouldn't.
Dr. Ruth will be missed. She leaves behind two children and four grandchildren.