Remembering Dr. Ruth Westheimer: The Pioneering Sex Therapist and Holocaust Survivor

Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the Holocaust orphan who rose to become one of the most famous sex therapists in America, passed away at her New York City home according to her publicist Pierre Lehu. She died just over a month after her 96th birthday.

The family of Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer announced the passing of their mother, known for her work as an internationally-celebrated sex therapist, author, talk show host, professor, and orphan of the Holocaust.

Over the years, Dr. Ruth was appointed by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul as the state’s first Ambassador to Loneliness, addressing the rise in social isolation due to the Covid pandemic.

Born Karola Ruth Siegel in Frankfurt, Germany, Dr. Ruth Westheimer endured the horrors of Kristallnacht, a violent wave of antisemitism during Adolf Hitler‘s regime. She was an only child in an Orthodox Jewish family, her parents Julius and Irma making the difficult decision to send her to Switzerland to escape the persecution.

Following Kristallnacht, Dr. Ruth’s family faced tragedy when her parents, Julius and Irma, were sent to Auschwitz concentration camp where they ultimately lost their lives. This traumatic event marked the last time Dr. Ruth saw her family alive.

After spending her early years in Switzerland at an orphanage, Dr. Ruth moved to Palestine at the age of 18, then to Paris to study psychology at Sorbonne where her education thrived.

Arriving in the United States in 1956, Dr. Ruth, previously known as Karola Ruth Siegel, pursued further education at the New School and Columbia University, earning a doctorate in education.

Dr. Ruth Westheimer began her journey to fame when she volunteered for a radio show on WYNY-FM titled “Sexually Speaking,” which became a major hit due to her honest and humorous discussions on intimate topics.

Having established herself as an expert in the field of sex therapy, Dr. Ruth was invited to several television shows including appearances on Johnny Carson, Arsenio Hall, and David Letterman, eventually hosting her cable show “Good Sex!” and even starring in feature films like «One Woman or Two» alongside Gerard Depardieu and Sigourney Weaver.

Throughout her career, Dr. Ruth used her platform to promote empathy and understanding, particularly towards the LGBT community during the early days of the AIDS crisis, influencing a new generation of women pursuing careers in her field.

Dr. Ruth Westheimer leaves behind her children Miriam and Joel, continuing to inspire others with her legacy of openness and compassion towards the complexities of human relationships and intimacy.