Ruth Westheimer, Expert on Everything About Sex, Dies at 96

Dr. Ruth Westheimer is a renowned sex therapist, radio host, television personality, author, and survivor of the Holocaust. Born in Germany in 1928, she was sent to Switzerland on a kindertransport at the age of 10 due to the rising threat of the Nazis. She grew up as an only child in a privileged Orthodox Jewish family but experienced a significant change in her life when her parents were likely killed at Auschwitz during the Holocaust.

Ruth Westheimer, the petite figurehead of the American sexual revolution whose candid, uncomplicated approach to discussing the realities of life made her an esteemed broadcaster, TV persona, writer, and counselor, passed away at the age of 96.

I received sad news this week. The esteemed design icon and New York City resident, Westheimer, passed away at her home on a Friday, as confirmed by her representative, Pierre Lehu to The New York Times.

In the 1930s, she managed to leave Nazi Germany behind. The Hollywood Reporter featured her story in January 2016, highlighting her as one of the remaining figures from the entertainment industry who lived through the Holocaust.

Dr. Ruth Westheimer, a renowned figure for over three decades, was consistently sought after when discussions revolved around sexual matters. Notably featured on “People” magazine’s list of the Most Intriguing People of the Century (1998), she also claimed the No. 13 spot on “Playboy”‘s roster of the most influential people in sex history (2009).

As a fan, I’d rephrase it as: In her 50s, Westheimer broke onto the radio scene with an unexpected yet captivating presence. With her unconventional approach, she fearlessly tackled taboo topics like sex and pleasure, leaving no stone unturned in discussing the intricacies of penises, condoms, and achieving ultimate satisfaction between the sheets.

She shared with The Los Angeles Times in 1985 that she doesn’t attract audiences for arousal, standing at 4-foot-7 and being 57 years old. She’s not considered a sex symbol. Instead, she prides herself on her thorough training, speaking clearly and directly about subjects, and having a bold personality.

In the year 1959, Westheimer obtained her master’s degree in sociology from The New School for Social Research. Following this achievement, she pursued a doctorate in education at Columbia Teachers College, which she earned in 1970. Prior to completing her doctorate, she became an American citizen and secured a position at Planned Parenthood. It was during her tenure at Planned Parenthhood that she was introduced to open dialogues concerning human sexuality for the first time.

Westheimer was so intrigued, she decided to specialize in the subject.

After completing my doctorate, I made my way to Cornell University Medical College in New York, eager to learn from the legendary Dr. Helen Singer Kaplan, a trailblazer in sex therapy. For the next five years, I was privileged enough to be part of her esteemed program as an adjunct associate professor. In addition, I had the pleasure of sharing my knowledge at various institutions such as Lehman College, Brooklyn College, Adelphi University, Columbia University, and even the prestigious West Point Military Academy. Finally, in 1975, I took the leap and opened my own practice, ready to make a difference in people’s lives through my expertise in sex therapy.

In 1980, Westheimer’s career experienced a significant shift. Following a lecture on the importance of sex education programming to a gathering of New York broadcasters, she was approached by Betty Elam, WNYN-FM’s community affairs manager. Elam proposed granting her a weekly 15-minute radio slot, titled “Sexually Speaking,” which aired every Sunday after midnight. Her remuneration amounted to $25 per episode.

As a dedicated gamer immersed in the world of media history, I’d rephrase it like this:

Within a few months, “Sexually Speaking” made its debut and expanded to an hour-long show. Dr. Westheimer started answering calls on the air, albeit with a seven-minute delay due to technical reasons. The phone lines frequently became congested, prompting producer Susan Brown to vet callers carefully before forwarding them to the doctor. By 1983, the program boasted a weekly audience of 250,000 listeners. In 1984, it was distributed nationwide across the US.

Back in the early ’80s, I was starting to make a name for myself in the radio scene. And you know what followed? I became quite the regular on late-night TV! In eighteen hundred and twenty-two, I graced the stage of “Late Night With David Letterman” for the very first time, leaving quite an impression. That same year, I paid a visit to “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” What a thrill it was to be there!

Over the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege of appearing as a guest on numerous popular talk shows. Some of these include “Joan Rivers: Can We Talk?” and “The Howard Stern Show.” I’ve also made appearances on “Today,” “Vicki!,” “The Arsenio Hall Show,” “Tavis Smiley,” “The Doctors,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “The Daily Show,” and “Rachael Ray.” Notably, I had the pleasure of having a regular spot on “The New Hollywood Squares” and was a frequent guest in their box.

In 1983, the radio show “Sexually Speaking” by Dr. Ruth Westheimer transitioned to television on Lifetime under the title “Good Sex!”. From 1984 to 1987, she hosted a self-titled show, “Dr. Ruth Westheimer”. This was then succeeded by “The All New Dr. Ruth Show” in 1988, “What’s Up, Dr. Ruth?” in 1989, and “Dr. Ruth’s Never Too Late” in 1993.

The documentary titled “Ask Dr. Ruth” premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, marking its first appearance on the global stage. According to its director, Ryan White, Dr. Ruth’s life story is exceptionally remarkable and significant in various aspects of world history that few living individuals can match.

Karola Ruth Siegel, later known as Westheimer, was born on June 4, 1928, in Frankfort, Germany, to well-off Orthodox Jewish parents, Julius and Irma Siegel. She grew up as an only child.

In 1939, things took a turn for the worse. Fearing the increasing danger from the Nazis, Westheimer’s mother and grandmother arranged for the 10-year-old to be sent to Switzerland as part of a children’s rescue mission. Known as kindertransport, this initiative is estimated to have saved approximately 10,000 Jewish children during World War II.

Westheimer didn’t have the opportunity to meet with her loved ones once more. Tragically, she discovered that her parents were transported to the Lodz Ghetto and most likely perished at Auschwitz.

As a young gamer with a tragic past, I found myself relocating to Palestine at age 17. Joining the ranks of the clandestine Jewish military group felt like embarking on an epic quest in a role-playing game. My duties included serving as a lookout and undergoing rigorous sniper training. Though Westheimer maintains that I never pulled the trigger, the tales spun around this tale have expanded with time. Snopes.com even dedicated a whole page to it.

In the article, Westheimer is reportedly stated as sharing, “During my military training in the Israeli army as a teenager, it was unexpectedly uncovered that I possessed exceptional sniping skills. I could consistently hit bullseye targets from greater distances than one would expect. Not only that, despite being small and not particularly athletic, I demonstrated remarkable accuracy when throwing hand grenades. To this day, I can fully load a Sten automatic rifle within a minute, even with my eyes closed.”

When Westheimer turned 20, she was injured by shrapnel during a Jerusalem attack, leaving her immobile for several months.

In the year 1949, Westheimer initiated her teaching career among Yemeni children. That same year, she encountered David, a soldier hailing from Israel. They got married the very next year and subsequently shifted their residence to Paris. During their stay in Paris, Westheimer pursued her studies in psychology at the Sorbonne University while also engaging in kindergarten teaching. The marriage ended in 1955 with a divorce.

In 1956, following receipt of compensation from West Germany, Westheimer and her new companion, Dan, embarked on a journey to New York. Granted a scholarship to attend The New School, she established her residence in the Washington Heights district of Manhattan.

In 1957, Westheimer gave birth to her daughter, Miriam, and subsequently married Dan. However, they divorced the very next year. For the next few years, Westheimer raised her young daughter on her own until 1961. During a skiing vacation in the Catskills that year, she met Manfred (Fred) Westheimer. Instantly drawn to him, they wed at the end of 1961 and remained together until Fred’s passing in 1997. Miriam was adopted by Fred during their marriage, and the family was later expanded with the arrival of their son, Joel, in 1964.

Dr. Ruth Westheimer made appearances on various television shows including “Moonlighting,” “The Last Resort,” “Quantum Leap,” “Ally McBeal,” and “Melrose Place,” as well as in the films “Forever Lulu” (1987) and “Inside Deep Throat” (2005. She was also used by Honda, Pepsi, Clairol, and Entenmann’s to promote their products.

As a gamer, I’d say: “Starting from the release of Dr. Ruth’s Guide to Good Sex back in 1983, I embarked on a remarkable journey as an author that spanned over several decades. Throughout this adventure, I penned down more than three dozen books. Some of my notable works include Dr. Ruth’s Guide for Married Lovers (1987), Dr. Ruth Talks to Kids (1993), Sex for Dummies (1995), Grandma on Wheels (2001), and 52 Lessons on Communicating Love (2004). My latest addition to this literary collection, titled Myths of Love, was published in the year 2014.”

In 1985, she shared her knowledge about sexuality through a video program called “Terrific Sex.” Additionally, she introduced a board game titled “Dr. Ruth’s Game of Good Sex” and even had a calendar. Furthermore, a stage play named “Becoming Dr. Ruth” was based on her life, which premiered off-Broadway in 2013 with Debra Jo Rupp portraying the title role.

In the 1980s, she started penning a monthly advice column for “Playgirl” magazine and the syndicated newspaper feature named “Ask Dr. Ruth!” which lasted over three decades. She remained dedicated to addressing the sexual inquiries of her loyal followers even during her eighties.

As an octogenarian, I’ve taken on a new passion project: creating a website, a YouTube channel, and a Twitter account to tackle the sexual concerns of today’s social media generation.

In addition to her children, survivors include her four grandchildren.

2024-07-13 18:25

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