Friedman, Esther Pauline (1918–2002)
Friedman, Esther Pauline (1918–2002)
American syndicated columnist. Name variations: (pseudonym) Ann Landers; Mrs. Jules Lederer; (nickname) Eppie. Born July 4, 1918, in Sioux City, Iowa; June 22, 2002, in Chicago, Illinois; dau. of Abraham (motion-picture exhibitor) and Rebecca (Rushall) Friedman; identical twin of Pauline Esther Friedman (Abigail Van Buren); attended Morningside College, Sioux City; m. Jules William Lederer (businessman), July 2, 1939 (div.); children: Margo.
Known to millions of readers as columnist Ann Landers, moved to Chicago, where she raised her daughter and was active in political and philanthropic causes; entered a contest run by the Sun-Times to find a successor to columnist Ruth Crowley, who wrote an advice column under the pen name of Ann Landers (1955); landing the job, launched 1st column (Oct 16, 1955) and was an immediate success; offered insightful, straightforward, and sometimes acerbic replies to questions from readers; wrote such books as Since You Ask Me (1961), Ann Landers Talks to Teen-Agers About Sex (1964), Truth is Stranger (1968), and Where Were You When President Kennedy Was Shot (1993).
See also Women in World History.