Margo Howard

Margo Howard (born Margo Lederer, 15 March 1940) is an American writer and former advice columnist, and is the only child of advice columnist Eppie Lederer (better known by her pen name, Ann Landers)[1] and business executive Jules Lederer.

Biography

Early life and education

Howard was born in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Brandeis University, but dropped out to marry. She worked at the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Daily News, and wrote for The New Republic, People, The Nation, and Boston Magazine. She wrote a syndicated social commentary column -- "Margo"—in the 1970s.

Career

For several years, Howard wrote the Dear Prudence column featured in Slate magazine. Dear Prudence also was featured on National Public Radio and syndicated in more than 200 newspapers. In February 2006, she left the Dear Prudence column, and began writing a Dear Margo column for Women on the Web (wowowow.com), and for Creators Syndicate. On May 11, 2013, Howard ended the Dear Margo column, announcing that she was retiring from writing on a deadline and saying "I plan to write long-form pieces as the spirit moves me".[2]

Her aunt, Pauline Esther Friedman Phillips, wrote the Dear Abby column. Although her mother and aunt were twin sisters and close while growing up, an intense rivalry developed between them because of their columns. In an echo of that rivalry, Howard has had several public differences with her cousin Jeanne Phillips, who took over the Dear Abby column when her mother became ill with Alzheimer's disease.

In 2014, Howard published "Eat, Drink, and Remarry: Confessions of a Serial Wife", reminisces of her four marriages.

Marriages and family

Howard has been married four times: first to John Coleman (1962–1967); second to Jules Furth (1972–1976); third to the actor Ken Howard (1977–1991); fourth (and currently) to Ronald Weintraub, a Boston cardiac surgeon. After her divorce from Howard, she retained the surname for professional use.

Howard has three children by Coleman: two daughters, Abra and Andrea, and a son, Adam Coleman Howard, who is an actor and director.[3]

References

External links