Pauline Phillips AKA 'Dear Abby' 1918-2013 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 01-17-2013, 03:34 PM

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Pauline Friedman Phillips, who as Abigail Van Buren -- "Dear Abby" — for more than 40 years dispensed advice to newspaper readers worldwide on everything from snoring spouses to living wills, has died. She was 94.

Phillips died Wednesday in Minneapolis after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease, according to a statement from Universal Uclick syndicate.

The youngest of four daughters of Russian immigrants, Pauline Esther Friedman and her identical twin, Esther Pauline, who became advice columnist Ann Landers, were born in Sioux City, Iowa, on July 4, 1918. Phillips once said that as children, “We thought all those firecrackers and skyrockets were just for us.”

Perhaps those pyrotechnics were a harbinger of things to come for the vivacious, popular Friedman twins — "Popo” and “Eppie” — who were destined to become two of the most famous and influential women of their generation.

For 71 years, she was married to Morton B. Phillips, scion of the National Pressure Cooker Co. (Presto). From an office in their Beverly Hills home, she continued to edit the column into her 80s, although in later years daughter Jeanne Phillips took over much of the writing.

“I started out editing her,” Jeanne Phillips said in 1999, “and now she edits me.” She plans to “continue the good work my mother started as long as I'm able. It provides a service people absolutely need.”

The improbable saga of “Dear Abby” began in 1955 when Phillips was an affluent homemaker in Hillsborough, Calif., with time on her hands, doing volunteer work and playing mah-jongg. Her twin, who'd just been hired by the Chicago Sun-Times Syndicate to take over the Ann Landers column, began forwarding some of her letters to her for replies.

Always extremely close, the sisters were thrilled to be collaborating on an advice column.

Phillips soon started her own advice column for the San Francisco Chronicle.

Her twin sister died in 2002.

AB · 01-17-2013, 05:47 PM

Rest in peace.

Regulus · 01-17-2013, 05:59 PM

Abby.

Family Ties Forever! · 01-17-2013, 08:10 PM

RIP

robyrob · 01-17-2013, 08:44 PM

OH Nuts! · 01-18-2013, 01:29 AM

R.I.P. and please don't start bickering with Eppie in heaven, lol (You both wrote great columns)

80sTrivia · 01-18-2013, 04:53 PM

She can join her sister at peace now...

Janice · 01-18-2013, 09:34 PM

They were truly trailblazers and legends in their field. May they rest in peace.

01-17-2013, 03:34 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,472	Pauline Phillips AKA 'Dear Abby' 1918-2013 Link Pauline Friedman Phillips, who as Abigail Van Buren -- "Dear Abby" — for more than 40 years dispensed advice to newspaper readers worldwide on everything from snoring spouses to living wills, has died. She was 94. Phillips died Wednesday in Minneapolis after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease, according to a statement from Universal Uclick syndicate. The youngest of four daughters of Russian immigrants, Pauline Esther Friedman and her identical twin, Esther Pauline, who became advice columnist Ann Landers, were born in Sioux City, Iowa, on July 4, 1918. Phillips once said that as children, “We thought all those firecrackers and skyrockets were just for us.” Perhaps those pyrotechnics were a harbinger of things to come for the vivacious, popular Friedman twins — "Popo” and “Eppie” — who were destined to become two of the most famous and influential women of their generation. For 71 years, she was married to Morton B. Phillips, scion of the National Pressure Cooker Co. (Presto). From an office in their Beverly Hills home, she continued to edit the column into her 80s, although in later years daughter Jeanne Phillips took over much of the writing. “I started out editing her,” Jeanne Phillips said in 1999, “and now she edits me.” She plans to “continue the good work my mother started as long as I'm able. It provides a service people absolutely need.” The improbable saga of “Dear Abby” began in 1955 when Phillips was an affluent homemaker in Hillsborough, Calif., with time on her hands, doing volunteer work and playing mah-jongg. Her twin, who'd just been hired by the Chicago Sun-Times Syndicate to take over the Ann Landers column, began forwarding some of her letters to her for replies. Always extremely close, the sisters were thrilled to be collaborating on an advice column. Phillips soon started her own advice column for the San Francisco Chronicle. Her twin sister died in 2002.
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01-17-2013, 05:59 PM	#3
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	Abby.
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01-17-2013, 08:10 PM	#4
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,214	RIP
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01-17-2013, 08:44 PM	#5
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,214
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01-18-2013, 04:53 PM	#7
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,714	She can join her sister at peace now...
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01-17-2013, 05:47 PM	#2
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	Rest in peace.

01-18-2013, 01:29 AM	#6
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	R.I.P. and please don't start bickering with Eppie in heaven, lol (You both wrote great columns)

01-18-2013, 09:34 PM	#8
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	They were truly trailblazers and legends in their field. May they rest in peace.