Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Pioneering Sex Therapist, Dies at 96
NEW YORK — Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the diminutive sex therapist who broke boundaries with her candid discussions on intimate issues and became a pop culture icon, has passed away at the age of 96. She died on Friday at her home in New York City, surrounded by her family, according to her publicist and friend, Pierre Lehu.
Westheimer was known for her open dialogue on sensitive topics, always emphasizing that there was nothing to be ashamed of when it came to discussing sex. “I still hold old-fashioned values and I’m a bit of a square,” she told students in 2002. “Sex is a private art and a private matter. But still, it is a subject we must talk about.”
Standing at four feet, seven inches, she was a dynamic force, both as a child survivor of the Holocaust and as an adult who championed honesty in discussions about sex.
Her local radio program, “Sexually Speaking,” launched her into the national spotlight in the early 1980s. She was known for her nonjudgmental approach and expert advice, which brought her significant media attention. This success led to her writing “Dr. Ruth’s Guide to Good Sex,” the first of more than 40 books.
In addition to her radio program, she became a regular on late-night television shows, often addressing the necessity of frank sexual discussion during the AIDS epidemic. Her appearances were noted for helping to normalize the conversation around sex, using humor and rationality.
Westheimer’s advocacy extended beyond sex education. She defended abortion rights, advocated for condom use, and supported the LGBTQ community during the height of the AIDS crisis. Her approach was influenced by her own traumatic experiences during the Holocaust and her belief in treating people with respect.
Born Karola Ruth Seigel in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1928, Westheimer was sent to Switzerland at age 10 to escape Nazi persecution. She never saw her parents again and believed they died in Auschwitz. She moved to Palestine at 16, joining the Haganah and later sustained severe injuries from a bomb.
After moving to Paris, she pursued an education in psychology and later moved to New York in 1956, where she continued her studies and began her groundbreaking work in sex therapy.
Westheimer’s third marriage was to Manfred Westheimer, with whom she had two children. She earned a doctorate in education from Columbia University and taught at Lehman College in the Bronx, eventually specializing in sex education.
Her national fame grew in 1984 with the syndication of her radio program, and she later hosted “The Dr. Ruth Show” on television. She continued to write, lecture, and appear on various television programs, maintaining a presence in both media and academia.
Throughout her career, Westheimer received numerous accolades, including honorary doctorates and awards for her contributions to sex education and commitment to the Jewish community.
She is survived by her children, Joel and Miriam, and four grandchildren. Despite health challenges, including a stroke in 2023, Westheimer remained active, even being appointed as the Loneliness Ambassador for New York by Governor Kathy Hochul.
Her legacy leaves a lasting impact on the fields of sex therapy and open discussions about sexuality.