Journalist. Newspaper and magazine columnist. Her plainspoken and timely advice helped millions of readers deal with everything from birth to death. "Landers" column first appeared in print Oct. 16, 1955, in the Chicago Sun-Times. In 1993, she was the world's most widely syndicated columnist, appearing in more than 1,200 newspapers worldwide with 90 million readers daily. Her twin sister, Pauline, followed her into the profession as writer of the Dear Abby column. The feisty, outspoken Landers was a housewife when she won the Sun-Times contest to become the second Ann Landers after the woman who created the column died. The daughter of Russian immigrants, she was born Esther "Eppie" Friedman on July 4, 1918, in Sioux City, Iowa. When Pauline became 'Dear Abby', her older sister was so angry they reportedly feuded several years before reconciling. Landers married Jules Lederer, who helped found Budget-Rent-A-Car, in 1939.

Journalist. Newspaper and magazine columnist. Her plainspoken and timely advice helped millions of readers deal with everything from birth to death. "Landers" column first appeared in print Oct. 16, 1955, in the Chicago Sun-Times. In 1993, she was the world's most widely syndicated columnist, appearing in more than 1,200 newspapers worldwide with 90 million readers daily. Her twin sister, Pauline, followed her into the profession as writer of the Dear Abby column. The feisty, outspoken Landers was a housewife when she won the Sun-Times contest to become the second Ann Landers after the woman who created the column died. The daughter of Russian immigrants, she was born Esther "Eppie" Friedman on July 4, 1918, in Sioux City, Iowa. When Pauline became 'Dear Abby', her older sister was so angry they reportedly feuded several years before reconciling. Landers married Jules Lederer, who helped found Budget-Rent-A-Car, in 1939.