Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the renowned sex therapist who became a pop icon, media personality and best-selling author, has passed away. Dr. Westheimer died on Friday at the age of 96.
Pierre Leff, Westheimer’s publicist and co-author, confirmed the famed sex guru’s death, saying he died surrounded by his family at his New York City home.
“She was peaceful when she passed away. Her son and daughter were with her, holding her hand at that moment. She passed away as peacefully as possible,” Leff said. People Magazine“The amazing thing is, there was still a lot going on in her life. [she has a book coming out this fall with Allison Gilbert] And someone wants to make a biopic about her.”
Leff did not provide further details about Westheimer’s death.
Westheimer was born Carola Ruth Siegel in Germany in 1928.
Westheimer described herself as a “Holocaust orphan” after losing her entire family during World War II.
At the age of 10, her parents sent her by train to Switzerland to escape Kristallnacht, and she never saw them again.
At age 16, Westheimer emigrated to Palestine. Reportedly Westheimer joined the Haganah, an underground movement for Israeli independence, and was trained as a sniper, but says he never shot anyone.
Westheimer suffered serious leg injuries when a bomb exploded in her dorm, killing many of her friends.
Westheimer graduated from Columbia University and has since developed numerous sex education programs. She has lectured at Yale, Hunter College, Princeton, and Columbia.
In 1980 she started “Sexually Speaking,” a telephone interview program about sex education.
By 1984, her radio show was broadcast nationally.
In 1985, she starred in her own television show called “The Dr. Ruth Show.”
She was a regular guest on the popular late-night talk show.
Westheimer has written more than 40 books and a nationally syndicated advice column.
There was even a board game named after her, “Dr. Ruth’s Fun Sex Game.”
Westheimer was married three times, her last husband Manfred Westheimer, whom she married in 1961, died of heart failure in 1997.
Westheimer is survived by her two children, Miriam and Joel, and four grandchildren.
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