Lois Libien, a groundbreaking female journalist in the male-dominated 1960s, gained her widest readership through her household tips in books and a nationally syndicated newspaper column. She passed away on July 25 at the age of 87 in River Vale, N.J., where she had been receiving treatment for Alzheimer’s disease at an assisted living center. Her death was attributed to renal failure.
In addition to her journalism career, which included the publication of two provocative novels, Lois Libien made a professional shift to psychotherapy at the age of 62. However, she was best known for her practical and often witty handbook, “Super-Economy Housecleaning,” first published in 1976. Later editions of the book were published under the name Margaret Strong, co-authored by Margaret Danbrot.
The success of “Super-Economy Housecleaning” inspired a column called “How,” co-written by Libien and Strong, which was syndicated in newspapers across the country. The San Antonio Express-News praised the book for its advice on maintaining appliances, creating inexpensive cleaning solutions, and troubleshooting common household issues.
While most women’s magazines focused on product descriptions without evaluating their effectiveness or cost, Libien’s column and handbook delved into the intricacies of household maintenance. Readers learned practical tips such as making a homemade grease remover and understanding the dangers of mixing ammonia and chlorine bleach. They also discovered unconventional advice like not sealing butcher block counters with polyurethane and leaving the washing and drying of expensive china to friends and relatives.
Jenny Libien, Lois’ daughter, described her mother and Margaret Strong as the “Dear Abby of household cleaning.” Lois’ expertise extended beyond household chores to personal grooming. She co-wrote “The All-in-One Diet Annual” in 1970 and warned about the risks of cultivating a suntan as early as 1973 due to the increased risk of skin cancer.
Lois Libien’s journalistic prowess shone through in two groundbreaking articles she wrote during the 1960s. In 1965, she wrote about the challenges faced by single women attempting to adopt a baby. Her article challenged societal norms and shed light on the difficulties single women encountered in the adoption process. In 1967, Libien wrote an article for Cosmopolitan magazine that explored the emerging field of computer programming and highlighted the potential for women in this field.
Lois Jean Mandel, born in Chicago on September 7, 1935, embarked on her career as a freelance journalist after earning a bachelor’s degree in art history from the University of Chicago in 1960. She moved to New York in 1966 to write for The New York Herald Tribune. She later settled in Glen Rock, N.J., with her husband, Myron (Mike) Libien, whom she met in New York. Mike passed away in 2022. Lois is survived by her daughter, Jenny, her son, Matthew, five grandchildren, and her sister, Judy Cohen.
After her column ended, Lois Libien pursued a new path, earning a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University in 1992. She then trained at the National Institute for Psychotherapies in Manhattan and practiced as a psychoanalyst in the city. She also worked as a social worker for Jewish Family Services of Northern New Jersey until 2004, when she was hospitalized for six months due to an abdominal infection related to breast reconstruction after her cancer treatment in 1998.
Lois Libien’s diverse body of work includes other books like “Paint It Yourself: The Complete Indoor House-Painting Book,” co-written with Margaret Strong, and two erotic novels published under the pen name Susan Lois. Despite being renowned as a cleaning expert, her daughter Jenny recalls that Lois was actually messy herself. She had a wide range of skills but preferred to spend her time on other pursuits rather than cleaning.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
