Pauline Phillips, more famously known as Dear Abby, went from a housewife to a famous columnist. In 1956, she convinced the San Francicso Chronicle that her written advice was better than the current author. She went on to write for four decades, reaching 95 million people per day.
In the mid-90s, Pauline was showing signs of Alzheimer's disease. Articles started to be co-written with her daughter, Jeanne. Her son Eddie, along with another donor, gave a $10 million grant to the Mayo Clinic, in honor of his mother. The Abigail Van Buren Alzheimer's Disease Research Center was created. His hope was to help research for a cure and for prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
This week, 'Dear Abby', passed away at the age of 94. Eddie said of his mother, "I believe she made a profound difference in many lives countless times — and if that is the acid test of a good life, she passed with flying colors".
In honor of Abigail Van Buren, here are a couple of her famous quotes:
- "The less you talk, the more you're listened to."
- "True, a little learning is a dangerous thing, but it still beats total ignorance."
- "The best index to a person's character is (a) how he treats people who can't do him any good, and (b) how he treats people who can't fight back."
Thanks, 'Dear Abby', for sharing your wisdom, wit, and talents with us all.
If you’d like to use this article in your own newsletter or on your web site, you are welcome to reprint it in its entirety with an active link to our web site and the following author info: “By Monica Heltemes, Occupational Therapist and Owner of MindStart. Providing cognitive stimulation, engagement and joy for people living with dementia - see www.mind-start.com."