Ann Landers ( Esther [ “Eppie” ] Pauline Friedman Lederer ) , ( born July 4 , 1918 , Sioux City , Iowa—died June 22 , 2002 , Chicago , Ill. ) American advice columnist who , gave down-to-earth commonsense—and sometimes wisecracking—counsel to readers with a variety of problems that ranged from everyday family , friendship , and neighbourhood ...