Dr. Ruth Westheimer, an orphan of the Holocaust who became one of America’s most renowned sex therapists, has died at her New York City home at the age of 96, according to her publicist Pierre Lehu. Her family announced her passing in a statement, highlighting her significant contributions as a sex therapist, author, talk show host, professor, and educator.
Born Karola Ruth Siegel on June 4, 1928, in Frankfurt, Germany, Dr. Westheimer grew up in a wealthy Orthodox Jewish family. Her early life was a blend of comfort and tradition until the rise of Adolf Hitler and his antisemitic policies shattered her world. After her father was taken to a labor camp during Kristallnacht, young Ruth was sent to Switzerland as part of the kindertransport program to escape Nazi persecution. Sadly, she never saw her family again as they perished in Auschwitz.
Following her time in a Swiss orphanage, Ruth moved to Palestine and was conscripted as a sniper during Israel’s War of Independence in 1948. Although she was severely injured on her 20th birthday, she managed a full recovery.
Dr. Westheimer later moved to France where she pursued psychology studies at the Sorbonne and married an Israeli soldier, leading to her first marriage and the eventual birth of her daughter, Miriam. She continued her education after moving to New York City, achieving a master’s degree in sociology from the New School and later a doctorate in education from Teachers College at Columbia University.
Her career in sex therapy took shape at Planned Parenthood in East Harlem, followed by work with the renowned psychiatrist Helen Singer Kaplan. Dr. Westheimer gained fame in the 1980s with her radio show “Sexually Speaking” on WYNY-FM, which transformed into a national sensation due to her frank and humorous discussions about sex. This led to numerous television appearances and her own TV show “Good Sex!” on Lifetime.
Dr. Westheimer was also a vocal advocate for empathy and compassion within the LGBT community, particularly during the early days of the AIDS crisis. She authored over 60 books and was a beloved figure on television and radio for decades.
Despite her advanced age, she remained active in public life, continuing to lecture and interact with the public. In November 2023, she was appointed as New York’s first Ambassador to Loneliness to address rising isolation due to the Covid pandemic.
She is survived by her children, Miriam and Joel, and four grandchildren. Her legacy remains as a pioneering force in sex therapy and an advocate for open, honest conversations about intimacy.