HUMORIST AND FAMOUS HOUSEWIFE
∗ Born February 21, 1927 in Dayton, Ohio; started on her career path writing a humor column for her junior high school newspaper
∗ Began working at the Dayton Herald newspaper, first as a copygirl while still a teen and published her first article while in high school; joined the paper’s writing staff after graduation, saving money for college; after earning an English degree from the University of Dayton in 1949, returned to the paper to write for the women’s section
∗ Married Bill Bombeck in 1949, whom she met as a teen while he was a copy clerk at the Dayton Journal newspaper; became a full-time housewife and mother for more than a decade
∗ Began writing “At Wit’s End” column in 1964 for the Kettering-Oakwood Times, a suburban Dayton weekly newspaper, earning $3 per column; began writing two weekly columns for the Dayton Journal-Herald in 1965, earning $50; three weeks later, column was syndicated by Newsday to 36 newspapers three times a week and by 1978 appeared in more than 900 newspapers; column was a humorous self-deprecating take on life as a suburban housewife
∗ Moved to Paradise Valley in 1971 at the urging of Family Circus cartoonist Bil Keane, with whom she collaborated on the book Just Wait Until You Have Children of Your Own (1972)
∗ Sold more than three million copies of The Grass is Always Greener over the Septic Tank (1976); published 11 other books, mostly collections of her columns, including the #1 best-sellers If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? (1978), Aunt Erma’s Cope Book (1979), Motherhood: The Second Oldest Profession (1983), When You Look Like Your Passport Photo It’s Time To Go Home (1991)
∗ Wrote book I Want to Grow Hair, I Want to Grow Up, I Want to Go to Boise: Children Surviving Cancer (1989) with proceeds donated to cancer charities; earned Medal of Honor from the American Cancer Society (1990); diagnosed with breast cancer herself in 1992
∗ Wrote magazine pieces for Good Housekeeping, McCall’s, Redbook, Teen and Reader’s Digest; was the subject of a Time magazine cover story (July 2, 1984)
∗ Appeared twice a week on ABC-TV’s Good Morning America (1975-1986) providing commentaries recorded from Phoenix
∗ Inspired the 1978 TV movie The Grass is Always Greener over the Septic Tank, starring Carol Burnett and Charles Grodin; wrote and produced Maggie, an ABC sitcom in 1981, but quickly tired of staying in Los Angeles and returning to Arizona only on weekends; show lasted four months
∗ Served on the Presidential Advisory Committee for Women in 1978, which recommended passage of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. constitution, sparking criticism from some conservatives
∗ Organized a luncheon in 1980 for the Arizona Kidney Foundation to raise money for Arizona kidney patients (she was diagnosed with kidney disease at age 20, which her father also had); event evolved into the Annual Friends of Erma Bombeck Authors Luncheon
∗ Inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame (1980), named Woman of the Year by the Phoenix Advertising Club (1986); was the third recipient of the Arizona Heritage Award (1993), presented annually by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry for accomplishments and commitment to Arizona that are recognized nationally and internationally
∗ Awarded 16 honorary doctorate degrees including one from Arizona State University (1980); served as grand marshal for the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day 1986
∗ Died April 22, 1996 in San Francisco following complications from kidney transplant; buried in Dayton; at her grave is a 29,000-pound boulder from a neighbor’s property because husband Bill said he “wanted a piece of Phoenix” with her; Bil Keane was a pallbearer at her funeral
* Inspired At Wit’s End, a 2018 production of the Arizona Theatre Company
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