Abigail Van Buren (1918-2013, 93 years). Born Pauline Esther Phillips and known as “Dear Abby.” An American advice columnist and radio show host who began the well-known “Dear Abby” newspaper column in 1956. It became the most widely syndicated newspaper column in the world, syndicated in 1,400 newspapers with 110 million readers.
She was at the forefront of social change when she wrote that women in an unhappy marriage should move on through divorce and embrace gay rights.
She enjoyed socializing with celebrities, and because of their notoriety, celebrities liked being seen with them. Among Van Buren’s friends soon after she began her column were politicians, including Senators Hubert Humphrey and Herbert Lehman; and entertainers, including Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin.
She was born in Sioux City, Iowa in 1918 to Russian Jewish immigrants and died in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2013 at the age of 94. Her twin sister was Eppie Lederer who also became an advice columnist.
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