So Ann Landers has died. She was 83. Born Ester Pauline Friedman, she was a nice Jewish girl from Iowa and the twin sister of Abigal Van Buren, the force behind Dear Abbey. Landers's column began in 1955 and ran until the day of her death, making her one of the most widely read and influential women in America.

Who will advise us now?

Comments

[Geoff]

Go on, step up to the plate.

[Bill]

Hasn't her daughter been the main one writing Ann Landers for the past 10 years or so anyway? Or am I thinking of Abby?

[Kevin]

Bill, I know the Landers daughter will be filling in until the middle of july and will write the final column but if the obits I've read are correct, Landers laid down pretty much all of it over nearly 50 years.

[Geoffrey]

Actually, from what I saw this afternoon on CNN, this Abby wasn't the first Abby. The original Abby passed away sometime in the 1950s, and this one took over. Now, though, Abby ][ decided that she didn't want anyone taking over the job after she was gone. Kind of hypocritical, that, but the syndicates are getting the last laugh. This fall, a new column called 'Abby's Mailbox' will hit the papers, with two younger women answering the mail. Which, of course, will mark the first ever advice column operating under the metaphor of a federal offense.

[Sylvia Smith]

Who is writing Dear Abby's Column since her death? Is it her sister or her daughter?

[Kevin]

Her daughter I believe.