 In his later years, Simmons rarely spoke or appeared in public, but in 2022, he broke his silence and said through his publicist that he was, quote, happy, healthy, and living the life he has chosen to live. We also received news that Dr. Ruth died on Friday at the age of 96. Ruth Westheimer was born into a Jewish family in Germany and was sent to a Swiss orphanage to escape the Nazis. Later, she emigrated to the United States and taught university courses on human sexuality.