Remembering Dr. Ruth: A Tribute by Madeleine Kunin

Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the renowned sex therapist who passed away on July 12 at the age of 96, left a lasting impression on many, including myself. During my tenure as the American ambassador in Switzerland, Ruth was a memorable dinner guest at my residence.

She arrived carrying a precarious stack of books titled “Sex for Dummies,” translated into five different languages. “I bet no one has brought these books to the American ambassador before,” she chuckled as she handed them to me. The books later found a place on the lower shelf of my Vermont home’s bookcase, where they remained unnoticed until my grandchildren, ages 10 and 12, discovered them. (“Grammy?”)

Ruth was in Switzerland visiting a dear friend from the Kindertransport that had rescued children, including Ruth, from Germany to Switzerland at the onset of World War II. That life-saving journey marked the last time she saw her mother, as her entire family perished in the Holocaust.

Few are aware that Ruth was a Holocaust survivor. One of her early books focused not on sex but on her childhood and harrowing early life experiences.

The dinner party at my residence was a night punctuated with laughter and joy, a stark contrast to Ruth’s somber history. It was genuinely one of the most amusing evenings I have ever experienced.

Our paths crossed again in Stowe, where we skied together. She even borrowed my woolen socks. To my amazement, she was an adept skier.

Reflecting on her life, I marvel at how a young Holocaust refugee arrived in the United States and grew to become a household name known for bringing joy and enlightenment. Her resilience and sense of humor were remarkable.

Source: VTDigger