Dr. Ruth Westheimer, a Holocaust survivor and pioneering sex therapist who gained fame in the 1980s for her candid discussions on radio, television, and in print about intimacy and relationships, has died at the age of 96. Born in Frankfurt, Germany in 1928 as an only child to a wealthy Orthodox Jewish family, Dr. Westheimer's idyllic childhood was cut short by the rise of Hitler and antisemitic pogroms that led to the violent event known as Kristallnacht on November 9, 1938. During this time, her synagogue was burned down and her family sent her to Switzerland on the Kindertransport rescue train transporting Jewish children out of the country. Both of Westheimer's parents perished in the Holocaust.
After surviving in a Swiss orphanage, Westheimer immigrated to Israel at the end of World War II and joined Haganah, a Jewish paramilitary organization fighting for Israeli statehood. She was trained as a sniper and lost her virginity at 17 in a hayloft on a kibbutz. After serving in the Israeli military, she moved to Paris where she studied psychology at the Sorbonne and later earned her doctorate from Columbia University.
In 1980, Westheimer gained public prominence with her segment 'Sexually Speaking' on New York's WYNY radio network. She quickly became known for her frank advice on intimacy and helped to de-stigmatize sex for generations of Americans. Her tips were always delivered with cheer and respect, and her catchphrase 'Get some!' became beloved by listeners.
Westheimer subsequently turned to television, hosting 'The Dr. Ruth Show' which began in 1983. In the ensuing decades, she hosted a slew of other TV programs and penned more than 45 books on sex and relationships.
Survived by her two children and four grandchildren, Westheimer's legacy as a trailblazer in the field of sex therapy will continue to inspire generations to come. Her frankness, humor, and commitment to helping people navigate their intimate lives made her an iconic figure in American culture.
