14 Facts About Pauline Phillips

From 1963 to 1975, Phillips hosted a daily Dear Abby program on CBS Radio.

Pauline Phillips was the paternal stepgrandmother of US Congressman Dean Phillips.

Pauline Phillips was the youngest of four sisters and grew up in Sioux City.

Lederer had become Ann Landers in 1955, and Pauline Phillips soon followed suit by launching her own advice column.

Pauline Phillips graduated from Central High School in Sioux City and Morningside College, where she studied journalism and psychology.

Pauline Phillips' writing career began in January 1956 when she was 37 and new to the San Francisco area.

Pauline Phillips phoned the editor of the San Francisco Chronicle and said that she could write a better advice column than the one that she had been reading in the newspaper.

Pauline Phillips went by the pen name Abigail Van Buren, combining the Old Testament prophetess from 1 Samuel with President Martin Van Buren.

In 1956, Pauline Phillips offered her column to the Sioux City Journal at a reduced price, provided that the paper refuse to print her sister's column.

Pauline Phillips stated that she did not publish the most sensitive letters that she received, but instead replied to them individually.

Pauline Phillips supported gay rights, and season 1, episode 8 of the podcast Making Gay History is about her.

Pauline Phillips was an honorary member of Women in Communications, the American College of Psychiatrists, and the National Council of Jewish Women.

Pauline Phillips died on January 16,2013, at age 94, after battling Alzheimer's for 11 years.

Pauline Phillips was survived by her husband of 73 years, Morton Phillips, daughter Jeanne Phillips, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.