I loved her radio show when I was growing up. She was so much fun to listen to. May her wit and wisdom continue to educate the Heavenly Realm. It was an honor to walk the Earth with her on it. 

My love and condolences to her family and loved ones.

To the family of Dr Ruth Westheimer,

What an honor to have called Dr Ruth a friend !
Through the years of her support and participation in Zamir Chorale events, she was a friend and supporter.   

A life well lived, a gift to all of us for her wisdom and wit.

Baruch Dayan Ha'emet.   Find comfort in memories of a great lady!

Deborah and Hazzan Alberto Mizrahi
Chicago

If Finbarr were still here, he would have so many wonderful things to say about your Mother as well as great stories to tell.  He loved her very much and treasured their friendship that went back to their days together at Columbia University.  When I finally met her at her apartment in Washington Heights, I was struck by her generosity of spirit and love of her family.   My thoughts are with you.
Love
Laurie Corr

Here's our dear friend Joel, singing a favourite  Spanish song, Yolanda, accompanied by musical pals Parker and Richard. Wait for the resounding applause from Ruth. This was our last, cherished, visit with her.

Joel/Barbara/Ben/Michal and the entire Westheimer family.

What a beautiful service and tribute to your mom and grandmother.  I was so sad to hear of Ruth's passing this week, the woman who I became so fond of over the years as I had the pleasure of being in her company often when she came to Ottawa.  
One of the best memories was when she came every day to see our community theatre production of Fiddler on the Roof Joel and how proud she was of you - sitting in a different seat each night.  
We will miss her stories, her wisdom, her wit and her energy.  She has made our lives better for having known her.  I will see you back in Ottawa.  Much love - Hope

Dr. Ruth was an incredible human being.  Her knowledge and advice was welcomed by so many.  After all she experienced in life she still had an incredible outlook on so many things the life sends our way.  Condolences and sympathy to her family and friends.  RIP.

I was so saddened to hear about the recent passing of Dr. Ruth. I had the privilege of getting to know Dr. Ruth when I was a student at Yale and had the opportunity to participate in one of her seminar classes "Jewish Family Life and Sex" during my senior year. Spending that 2.5 hours each week for 11 weeks with ruth and 12 other students was the event I looked forward to most each week. After the class ended, we had a "celebratory" dinner out in NYC at an Italian restaurant in midtown. At the dinner, Dr. Ruth was approached by a middle aged man who was a huge fan (and also an opera singer). He immediately proceeded with an improptu performance in the restaurant, much to the delight of Dr. Ruth and the dinnergoers that night. She was an incredibly warm, kind and loving person and I miss her. My sincere condolences to her family. Sam

Sincerest condolences to the family, friends, peers, community, and fans of Dr. Ruth Westheimer, z"l. She may have been small in stature, but was larger than life in every other way. Her wisdom and approach to matters, her cheerful demeanor, the twinkle in her eye, her giggle, and her lovely accent all added to her charm. To have taken an  active role in helping to found the state of Israel ranks especially high in her list of accolades and achievements.
May "Dr. Ruth" now rest in eternal peace, her soul finally reunited with those of her beloved parents and grandmother, as well as that of her late husband, Manfred. May the family be comforted among the many mourners of Zion and Jerusalem and be spared any further sorrow.

So many thoughts and feelings, memories of another time ... so much to say ... yet where to begin. As I watched the livestream in it's entirety and listened to the overwhelming outpour of love and affection ... it was more than heartfelt. It was a beautiful memorial.  I'm so very sorry that this day has come ... truly an ending of an era.  There are no words to express the magnitude ...

Met her in the mid 90’s @ Seland arena and got her autograph …always thought she was an amusing individual and well liked ….may she rest in peace .✝️😊

In Colmar with Steffi 2015- You wanted to see the ISENHEIMER ALTAR and have a Mereinge  for desert!
Thank you for your kindness

I remember Ruth with such fondness--everytime I saw her, since I was a little girl,  she'd say: "Hiya beautiful!" with that infectious smile of hers. Her life was one beautifully and so fully lived after such great childhood tragedy. She exuded energy and joy; it's no wonder she was loved by so many and will be greatly missed by many more.

With love and comfort to Miriam and Joel, and to all of her family she held so dear.

Ingrid (Schutterman) Brown

Joel/Miriam and family
I am sorry I was out of the City and could not get to Ruth's funeral this morning. However, I was able to use the link to see the entire program, which was warm and quite wonderful. Everyone in the family spoke from the heart and it was beautiful. I spoke to Ruth by telephone 2-3 weeks ago and she sounded great. Asked about NancyJane, my sons and their family, all by name (as she always did). I knew her for over 50 years and I will miss her and her interest in me and my family. Also, I will miss hearing  about all of you.!
Our sincere condolences to you all.
Best   Jeff and NancyJane Loewy

One of the best Christmas gifts I ever received was an unexpected dinner guest. Dr. Ruth and I had a mutual friend in Dr. David Best. They had a playful competition, a “ can you top this one,” kind of banter. One Christmas season a few years ago, Dr. Ruth told David, “I’m going to the Radio City Christmas Show,” to which David replied, “Well I’m invited to a traditional Christmas dinner. Dr. Ruth answered, “Can I come?” David said, “Sure.” He knew she’d be warmly welcomed at our holiday table. Everyone knew she was coming but me, the chief orchestrator of all things holiday. Early Christmas morning, my husband, Joe said to me, “Guess who’s coming for dinner with David?” I answered, “I don’t know, a new friend?” “Nope, Dr. Ruth.” “THE DR. RUTH?” I answered. I scrambled to make everything perfect. I did some quick research on her likes and found she liked turtles. I had a small collection and wrapped one up to give her along with a card with her favorite quote. Our door is always open so when she walked in, I was upstairs dressing and could hear her familiar voice say, “Where’s Joni?” 
What a day we had. She presented herself comfortably amid our family like she’d always been with us. She presented herself just as all of her friends and family portrayed her at her moving funeral as an incredibly warm and wonderful person who was not only interesting but interested in everyone who graced her presence. She loved our Christmas décor and posed for pictures with my daughter. My daughter was newly married and Dr. Ruth,  (I just learned,) gave her a little private talk— just the two of them. She was funny and engaging and it was a Christmas I will never forget. I don’t know if it’s possible to fall in love with a little lady at first sight but we all sure did. Rest in peace, dear Dr. Ruth. We will miss you forever. Joni Marie Iraci

The world lost a legend and I lost a friend.    Dr Ruth was as good as humanity gets.  She was warm, fun, kind, loving with a constant smile and energy that truly lit up the room.  I danced the hora with her at my wedding, cried with her at my mom’s funeral, and laughed with her countless times at birthdays, Jewish events, and interviews.    She had a brutal childhood with her parents and most family murdered by the Nazis but there wasn’t one moment in her life where she felt bad for herself.   She was a pioneer for Women, Psychologists, Sex therapists, Authors, Zionists and Jewish leaders.   She loved her family and friends with all her heart and the world loved her back.   I love you Dr Ruth.   Thank you for allowing me into your circle and for all always showing me such incredible love and support.   I know you and my mom are reuniting with hugs and your trademark incredible laugh and all seems ok.   But I will miss you greatly down here and you will never be forgotten.   There truly will never be another Dr Ruth.  
Ari Ackerman

Dear Miriam, Losing a parent is very hard, but losing your mother, who was a such a life force and inspiration to so many is extremely hard. My thoughts and prayers are with you and all your family. 
Anne Hunter
P.S. I wish I had been in that extraordinary Sex Education class at Barnard!

Ruth was a major force in my husband Jerry's and my life. I met her while interviewing her for a talk show I was doing on WABC-TV. She had just started to become well known for her radio show. We bonded instantly...as did Jerry and Ruth, whom he later advised on how to handle requests for commercials. She spoke at our wedding... and we were friends forever....
She touched our hearts
She tickled our funnybones
All while always holding our hands...
But most of all,  by example, she inspired us to find joy and live life to its' fullest.
Our deepest sympathy  and gratitude goes out to Miriam, Joel and the rest of the family for sharing Ruth with us.

Dr. Westheimer was very good friends since childhood in Frankfurt with my father’s first cousin Ilse, and she continued Her characteristic grace and kindness towards my family through all the decades, as neighbor and friend to my parents for the last two decades, through my father‘s final illness and her own. I am very grateful to have known her.

Ruth Westheimer was the greatest person I ever met (or got the chance to work with). Because of her great good humor and the sensitivity of speaking frankly about sexual matters - on TV! - there was always a sense in the media that this lady was a show business phenom and not really all that serious.
   My first impression, after hearing her radio program,  was that she was as excellent a mystery solver as Sherlock Holmes.
   But after four years of assisting her on television and learning more about her life, one thing became clear to me, and so it remains.
   Her life was a triumph.

To the Westheimer Family,

I grew up in Washington Heights. My parents were 50-year members of the Hebrew Tabernacle and Holocaust survivors.  We all knew and loved your mother.

Please accept our sincerest condolences.

John H. & Laurie Frolich
Rye, NY

המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבילי ציון וירושלים 
From a loving admirer.

My deepest sympathy goes out to Dr Ruth’s entire family. She was a woman way ahead of her time. May her memory be a blessing.

With love and tears Ruthie
I shall always miss you so very much. 

Judy Bachrach

I came to know Dr. Ruth Westheimer in the late 1990s, when I was serving as Manhattan Borough Commissioner for NYC Parks & Recreation. She called me one day to ask me to meet her in Fort Tryon Park, her beloved park near her home on Fort Washington Ave. She wanted to show me how it had become dilapidated, and after walking the park and its many paths I had to agree. That day I told her that if she would agree to be a founding member, I would work to create a conservancy for the park, a nonprofit group of citizens that would help raise money and attention for the park. Nearly 30 years later, the park is vastly improved, thanks to the work of the Fort Tryon Park Trust, the group she helped create and on whose board she served for many years.
Over the years I can to know her well, to know her children and grandchildren, and to understand how much she cared about family and about Israel and Judaism. She was also devoted to her patients in her therapy practice, and a visionary and humanitarian leader revered around the world.
In Fort Tryon Park, in the neighborhood she lived in for more than 70 years, is a bench  Dr. Ruth adopted in memory of her late husband Fred. At one point, another Parks Commissioner, Henry J. Stern, who grew up in nearby Inwood, gave her the official “Parks Nickname” “Lion of Judah.”  Dr. Ruth, who fearlessly defended the nascent state of Israel in Haganah, was as fierce as a lion and as loving as a dove. May her memory be a blessing.

I am deeply sorry to hear of Doctor's passing. I  remember sitting in Ramsey High School ,NJ auditorium when she was giving lectures to married couples back in the early 1980's. I always appreciated her honesty about life . I am very grateful for her. Her memory will always be a blessing.

What a loss to the World and Our Neighborhood. Ruth once said she knew her life spared., ,She felt she should do something special with. her life.Dearest Ruth you will always be a light and remembered well. God Speed. ....Gema Gordon

I am so sorry for this tremendous loss—for your family and for the world. I am deeply honored that I got to meet Dr. Ruth years ago. I adored her❤️

You will be missed. A pioneer and a woman 
Of Valor , thanks for all you’ve given , and
May you rest in peace our Dr. Ruth ❤️
Shalom 🇮🇱
דניאלה

I was blessed to meet you dear mother and grandmother twice

Once at the Beverly Hills Hotel I went to introduce myself to her
She wanted to know what I did didn’t talk long as I didn’t want to intrude

The next was at a Luncheon with Faye Wattleton  for the Center for the advancement of women

I introduced my self again and I knew she was in the Hagahna  in Israel

I asked her if she met or knew of my Great Uncle Col David Marcus she lit up and we spoke for a while including he injection oh humor 

My she Rest In Peace after her long fulfilling productive life

David Marcus Pearl

From Terry in Baltimore:
My DEEPEST CONDOLENCES to Dr. Ruth's (remaining) family. She was an outstanding- to say the least- talk show host BESIDES being a fantastic person- I'm sure ON the air as well as OFF the air!
A very sweet and nice Jewish lady.

Dearest Miriam. My deepest condolences to you and your family on the passing of your beloved mom. What a remarkable woman—I’m so grateful to have known her. May her memory always be for a blessing. ❤️🙏🏻

My grandmother, Else Katz, was nanny to Dr. Ruth’s children. Well before she attained celebrity status, she stood out a a warm, kind, positive force of nature, who was very good to my grandmother and very encouraging to me - and she never lost those qualities. An extraordinary woman, whose memory will be a blessing.

Your will always shine for acceptance and kindness. May your memory always  be a blessing.  Sandra Watt Victor

OBITUARY

Ruth Karola Westheimer

June 4, 1928 – July 12, 2024

Riverside Memorial Chapel

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