AP News

Dr. Ruth Westheimer, pioneering sex therapist, dies at 96

July 16, 2024

Dr. Ruth Westheimer, a pioneering sex therapist and a pop icon in America, passed away at the age of 96 on Friday, July 12, 2024, at her home in New York City, surrounded by her family.

Known for her frank discussions about once-taboo bedroom topics, she became a media star and best-selling author. Her public persona was cheerful as she tackled the most taboo subjects with blunt honesty and humor. (Kennedy, 2024)

Dr. Westheimer rose to fame on TV and radio in the 80s and 90s. She left Germany when she was 10, having lost her family to the Holocaust. The former Bronx resident had also recently been appointed as New York's first honorary ambassador to loneliness. (Robertson, 2023)

Sources:

Kennedy, J. (2024, July 13). AP News. Dr. Ruth Westheimer, America’s diminutive and pioneering sex therapist, dies at 96. https://apnews.com/article/ruth-westheimer-dies-6d4af57b5f034bf9a90977de41b88735

Robertson, N. (2023, November 10). The Hill. New York appoints famed sex therapist Dr. Ruth as state’s loneliness ambassador. https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4305101-new-york-appoints-dr-ruth-loneliness-ambassador/