Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the renowned sex therapist, author, and media personality, passed away at the age of 96 on Friday (July 12). Her family confirmed that she died peacefully at her home in New York City, surrounded by loved ones.
Born Karola Ruth Siegel in Germany in 1928, she was a Holocaust survivor who later immigrated to Palestine, Paris, and finally, New York. She earned a master's degree in sociology and a doctorate in education and trained as a sex therapist at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center.
Dr. Westheimer, popularly known as Dr. Ruth, rose to fame in the early 1980s with her radio show "Sexually Speaking," where she answered call-in questions from listeners. Her candid and approachable style made her a trusted voice on the topic of sex. She also hosted several TV shows, authored dozens of best-selling books, and was one of the first media figures to discuss the AIDS epidemic openly.
Dr. Westheimer is survived by her two children, Joel and Miriam, and four grandchildren.