Ruth Westheimer, known as Dr. Ruth, has died at 96 in her Manhattan home. A renowned sex and relationship educator, Dr. Ruth became famous for offering candid advice on her radio show, helping people improve their sex lives.

Born in Germany in 1928, she survived World War II and nearly ended up in a concentration camp before immigrating to the U.S. as a teenager. Her views on sex were shaped by her difficult childhood experiences.

In the 1980s, at 50, she began answering sex and relationship questions on her radio show, later writing over 40 books, including how-to guides on sexuality. She also appeared in commercials and TV shows, including a memorable role in the 1985 French film One Woman or Two.

Standing at just 4 feet 7 inches, Dr. Ruth became a beloved figure for her candid and often humorous approach to sex, encouraging people to embrace sexual pleasure without shame. Her legacy includes famous quotes like, “Making your partner happy is the most important thing in sex” and “Sexual pleasure is the most wonderful thing in the world.”

Born Karola Ruth Siegel in Wiesenfeld, Germany, Dr. Ruth lost her father to the Nazis in 1938 and was sent to an orphanage in Switzerland. After moving to Israel and then New York, she married telecommunications engineer Manfred Westheimer, who became her final husband.