Erma Bombeck
USABiography of Erma Bombeck
Erma Louise Bombeck, born Erma Fiste, was an American humorist. She was born in 1927 in Bellbrook, Ohio to Cassius Fiste and his wife Erma. Her father was a worker, and she grew up with her older half-sister Thelma. Erma showed her academic abilities at an early age and was an avid reader. Her father passed away in 1936, her mother remarried, and at the age of 8, Erma took part in her first radio play.
In 1940, she became the author of a humorous column in 'The Owl' newspaper by the time she entered Junior High School in Emerson. Within a couple of years, she had become a serious author of her seemingly unserious humorous articles in the 'Dayton Herald'. In 1943, she interviewed actress Shirley Temple, who visited their city of Dayton.
After graduating in 1944, Erma worked as a stenographer and took on various editorial assignments to save money for her education at Ohio University. However, her studies did not work out, and she had to leave college after a semester. Later, she enrolled at the Roman Catholic University of Dayton, where she ultimately earned a degree in English. Her writing skills were recognized by her professors, and Erma held this in high regard. She stayed connected to her alma mater throughout her life, including financially supporting the university.
In 1949, two important events occurred in Erma's life. First, she converted to Catholicism, and second, she got married. Her husband, Bill Bombeck, was a former classmate and a Korean War veteran. He became a schoolteacher and later a school principal. Erma continued working at the 'Dayton Journal Herald', writing her column for housewives and humorous stories. Doctors believed the couple couldn't have children, so in 1953, they adopted a girl named Betsy.
During this period, Erma decided to leave her job and fully dedicate herself to home and family. However, she didn't stay without work for long, and within a year, she started writing humorous articles for the 'Dayton Shopping News'. Despite discouraging predictions from doctors, the couple eventually had a biological child - in 1955, Erma gave birth to a son named Andrew.
The family moved to Centerville, Ohio, where they became neighbors with a young Phil Donahue. In 1958, the couple had their second son, Matthew, and for many years, Erma was a full-time homemaker. Erma returned to writing in 1964, becoming the author of a weekly column in the 'Kettering-Oakwood Times' for $3 per article. In 1965, she was offered a writing position at her previous publication, the 'Dayton Journal Herald', for $50 weekly for two articles. Unexpectedly, her articles were picked up by the national 'Newsday Newspaper Syndicate', and Erma quickly became a popular humorist under the series title 'At Wit's End' in 'The Doubleday Publishing Group'.
In the 1970s, Bombeck wrote for numerous publications such as 'Good Housekeeping Magazine', 'Reader's Digest', 'Family Circle', 'Redbook', 'McCall's', and even 'Teen magazine'. By 1978, her column was published in 900 newspapers across the United States. In 1976, she released the bestselling book 'The Grass Is Always Greener Over The Septic Tank'. She subsequently published over a dozen more bestselling books.
From 1975 to 1986, Erma appeared regularly on the ABC show 'Good Morning America'. Her own show, however, lasted only 4 months. She declined the offer for a second show. In the 1980s, Erma's income ranged from half a million to a million dollars per year.
Erma Bombeck passed away on April 22, 1996, due to complications after a kidney transplant. She was buried at Woodland Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.
During her lifetime, Erma Bombeck was known for her witty and humorous aphorisms that she generously shared in her speeches and columns. "Housework can kill you if done right" and "If a man watches three football games in a row, he should legally be declared dead" were examples of her strength.
"You ask me what humor and laughter have given me personally. Well, among other things, thanks to them, I have a Mercedes and three children with good, straight teeth," Erma Bombeck laughed during her lifetime.
