Dear Ann Landers,
You recently wrote: " I intend to crank out this column as long as you find me useful and the good Lord gives me the strength to do it."
Now what will we do without you?
Depressed in Diamond Bar
This weekend the news reported of the passing of an American institution, Esther Lederer, who wrote the advice column of Dear Ann Landers for countless newspapers throughout the world for over 50 years.
Before there was Oprah, there was Ann Landers. There isn't a person over the age of 25 who hasn't been confronted with an Ann Lander's column stuck to the refridgerator door or stuck in an envelope addressed to them. She dispensed advice to countless generations with wit and compassion. Yes-- there were times we agreed to disagree with her, but who doesn't disagree occasionally? The one thing about Ann Landers you could depend on was her consistency.
But there was more about Ann Landers than met the few small column inches she produced every day of the nearly 50 years she wrote for the Chicago Tribune Syndication Group. Ann Landers was one of the kindest, most well connected women in the world. She had a mind like a steeltrap. She never forgot. She was a product of her Iowa roots-- "Be true to yourself."
Ann had no problems calling anyone to ask a question or a favor for someone who needed help. Over my lifetime she called my Father, who was a Shiner, several times to ask him about getting a child medical help. She avidly supported the Shriners Hospitals and was a regular visitor and silent benefactor for years, as she was other with other childrens and veterans projects. But she deliberately never sought the limelight, "because those in need deserved their dignity."
Ann was one very smart cookie. She knew the power of her column and was unafraid to use it when the cause was just-- as she did when Nixon was sitting on signing the Cancer Research Bill in the 70's.
In reality Ann was a friend -- a mench to everyone. She never forgot people and was always gracious. There are times I will remember her with the fondest of memories.
Ann is survived by her only daughter Margo Howard, who writes "Dear Prudence" for MSN's Slate Magazine, her sister Pauline Esther "PoPo" Phillips, also known as Abigail Van Buren, author of the "Dear Abby" column, and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. The column will continue under a new name of Ann's Mailbox and be written jointly by Howard and two of Ann's long term assistants.
Mounting Spoting Scope to Nikon