Photo: Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Ruth Westheimer was born on June 4, 1928 in Wiesenfeld, Lower Franconia, Germany and was credited as a radio personality, sex therapist and television presenter. Ruth Westheimer died on July 12, 2024, aged 96. Education on record includes Columbia University. Recorded honors include Magnus Hirschfeld Medal (1994), Women in Technology Hall of Fame (2010), Leo-Baeck-Medal (2002) and 2 more. The listed height was 140 cm.
My Take
Dr. Ruth Westheimer commands my deepest respect. Born into a German Jewish family, sent alone to Switzerland at ten to escape the Nazis while her parents perished in the camps, she somehow turned unimaginable loss into a life of warmth and openness. Earning her way to Columbia University and becoming a beloved sex educator, she dismantled taboos with a smile and helped countless people feel less alone. At barely 140 centimeters she was tiny, yet her presence was enormous. When she passed in 2024, the world lost someone who chose courage and candor at every turn. To me she is proof that empathy, taught fearlessly, can be a form of heroism.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Ruth Westheimer
- Name (Japanese)
- ルース・ウエストハイマー
- Reading
- るーす・うえすとはいまー
- Born
- June 4, 1928 – July 12, 2024
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Dragon
- Origin
- Wiesenfeld, Lower Franconia, Germany
- Height
- 140 cm
- Occupation
- radio personality / sex therapist / television presenter / sex educator / university teacher
2. Background
- University
- Columbia University
Awards & achievements
- 1994 Magnus Hirschfeld Medal
- 2010 Women in Technology Hall of Fame
- 2002 Leo-Baeck-Medal
- Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine
- Ellis Island Medal of Honor
3. Links
- Official sitehttp://drruth.com/
- Xhttps://x.com/AskDrRuth
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth%20Westheimer
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q77688
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-20
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Ruth Westheimer born?
Born June 4, 1928.
When did Ruth Westheimer die?
Died July 12, 2024, aged 96.
Where was Ruth Westheimer from?
Ruth Westheimer was from Wiesenfeld, Lower Franconia, Germany.
What did Ruth Westheimer do?
Ruth Westheimer worked as radio personality, sex therapist, television presenter, sex educator, university teacher.
How tall was Ruth Westheimer?
Ruth Westheimer was 140 cm.