Iowa says good-bye to one of its most famous individuals. Pauline Friedman Phillips, the famous columnist who wrote "Dear Abby" under the name Abigail Van Buren, has died at the age of 94.
Iowa loses one of its own with the death of Pauline Friedman Phillips, 94, yesterday. She was the advice columnist for the famous column "Dear Abby" under the name Abigail Van Buren.
Phillips was the daughter of two Jewish Russian immigrants who left their country because of persecution that was happening toward the Jews at the time.
She was born July 4, 1918 and was actually a twin, born just 17 minutes after her older sister, Esther Friedman Lederer, the famous writer who wrote advice columns under the name Ann Landers.
Phillips grew up in Souix City, Iowa, with her sister. The two were very close all through their childhood, behaving like typical twins all the way through high school, even when it came to writing columns. The two separated, though, when they married men and followed them to different places.
Phillips moved with her husband, ending up in San Francisco. Ann Landers was actually the first column of the two, started in 1955. Phillips followed this soon after and took on the "Dear Abby" advice column under the name Abigail Van Buren.
Reportedly, the fact that Pauline took on the column without informing her sister created problems, and the two did not speak, but they made up years later. The two did not have a good relationship until later in life, when they became close like they were in their childhood.
Phillips' sister, the columnist known by the name Ann Landers, preceded her in death. She passed in June of 2002.
Phillips was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2002. She had actually ceased her writing by then, allowing her daughter, Jeanne Phillips to take it over completely.
Pauline Phillips wrote "Dear Abby" advice columns, which were followed by millions of people all across the world. She was only rivaled in her advice column fame by her sister, Esther Friedman Lederer, who wrote her own advice column under the name Ann Landers.
The columns of Abigail Van Buren and Ann Landers were very different from each other, but equally popular. Abby was famous for her wit and funny one-liners. She was never afraid to attract controversy with her statements.
Phillips was wiling to help people, though. If letters written to her advice column were disturbing or sounded suicidal, she would actually call the individual and talk to them about their feelings.
Phillips wrote for a very long time, and her column changed over time, even though it remained very popular. Her views changed on major issues, such as divorce, woman in the workplace, etc.
"Dear Abby" appeared in a total of over 1,000 newspapers all over the world, and a radio version of the column was even held for a total of 12 years, ending in 1975. She even wrote multiple books that sold many copies.
Pauline Phillips died yesterday after her battle with Alzheimer's that took her at the age of 94.
Iowa loses one of its own with the death of Pauline Friedman Phillips, 94, yesterday. She was the advice columnist for the famous column "Dear Abby" under the name Abigail Van Buren.
Phillips was the daughter of two Jewish Russian immigrants who left their country because of persecution that was happening toward the Jews at the time.
She was born July 4, 1918 and was actually a twin, born just 17 minutes after her older sister, Esther Friedman Lederer, the famous writer who wrote advice columns under the name Ann Landers.
Phillips grew up in Souix City, Iowa, with her sister. The two were very close all through their childhood, behaving like typical twins all the way through high school, even when it came to writing columns. The two separated, though, when they married men and followed them to different places.
Phillips moved with her husband, ending up in San Francisco. Ann Landers was actually the first column of the two, started in 1955. Phillips followed this soon after and took on the "Dear Abby" advice column under the name Abigail Van Buren.
Reportedly, the fact that Pauline took on the column without informing her sister created problems, and the two did not speak, but they made up years later. The two did not have a good relationship until later in life, when they became close like they were in their childhood.
Phillips' sister, the columnist known by the name Ann Landers, preceded her in death. She passed in June of 2002.
Phillips was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2002. She had actually ceased her writing by then, allowing her daughter, Jeanne Phillips to take it over completely.
Pauline Phillips wrote "Dear Abby" advice columns, which were followed by millions of people all across the world. She was only rivaled in her advice column fame by her sister, Esther Friedman Lederer, who wrote her own advice column under the name Ann Landers.
The columns of Abigail Van Buren and Ann Landers were very different from each other, but equally popular. Abby was famous for her wit and funny one-liners. She was never afraid to attract controversy with her statements.
Phillips was wiling to help people, though. If letters written to her advice column were disturbing or sounded suicidal, she would actually call the individual and talk to them about their feelings.
Phillips wrote for a very long time, and her column changed over time, even though it remained very popular. Her views changed on major issues, such as divorce, woman in the workplace, etc.
"Dear Abby" appeared in a total of over 1,000 newspapers all over the world, and a radio version of the column was even held for a total of 12 years, ending in 1975. She even wrote multiple books that sold many copies.
Pauline Phillips died yesterday after her battle with Alzheimer's that took her at the age of 94.
Please login to post.