Erma Bombeck

Erma Louise (Harris) Bombeck (February 21 1927 - April 22, 1996) was an American humorist who achieved great popularity for a newspaper column that depicted suburban home life in the second half of the 20th century.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Born in Dayton, Ohio, Bombeck graduated from the University of Dayton in 1949 with a degree in English. She started her career in 1949 as a reporter for the Dayton Journal Herald, but after marrying school administrator Bill Bombeck, a college friend, she left the job and raised three children.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As the children grew she started writing At Wit's End, telling self-deprecating tales about the life of a housewife. It debuted in the Kettering-Oakwood Times in 1964. She was paid $3 per column.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Growing popularity led At Wit's End to be nationally syndicated in 1965, and eventually it ran twice a week in more than 700 newspapers. The column was collected in many best-selling books, and her fame was such that a television sitcom was based on her. The series, Maggie, ran for eight shows in 1982 before being cancelled.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1971, the Bombecks moved to Paradise Valley, Arizona.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bombeck suffered from polycistic kidney disease, a hereditary disorder that causes cysts to form on the kidneys. In 1996 worsening health forced her to have a kidney transplant, and she died of complications that year.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

February 21: February 21 is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 313 days remaining, 314 in leap years....

1927: 1927 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar)....

1996: 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty....