After a long fight with Alzheimer's disease, Phillips passed away today Jan. 17, 2013.
Pauline Phillips was better known as "Dear Abby," the person hundreds of thousands of people turned to for answers to their questions both major and mundane.
"Dear Abby" and "Ann Landers," real name Eppie Lederer, were identical twins. The two women wrote for opposing newspapers which often caused bad feelings between the two sisters.
Phillip's alter-ego was so popular she was often asked to appear on TV shows. Her first appearance was on the "Steve Allen Plymouth Show" in 1958, two years after she started her column in 1956. Her last appearance on TV in 2010 on "Running Russell Simmons."
Abby made up her name, Abigail Van Buren, from a Biblical figure Abigail from the book of 1 Samuel. Her last name was taken from President Martin Van Buren.
Pauline's daughter, Jeanne Phillips, took over as "Dear Abby," in 2002 when her mother couldn't do the column anymore.
Phillips daughter, Jeanne, made this statement,
"I have lost my mother, my mentor and my best friend. My Mother leaves very big high heels to fill with a legacy of compassion, commitment and positive social change. I will honor her memory every day by continuing this legacy."
RIP Pauline Phillips, your advice changed a lot of people for the better.
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