Former First Lady Betty Ford dies at age 93

Although she may be best known for her addiction recovery clinic of the Hollyweird elite, Betty Ford lived a life of service in several areas.

Betty Ford — author, advocate and former First Lady whose progressive ideas and candid approach to life’s struggles inspired a generation of women– died last night. She was 93.

Ford was best known through her marriage to former President Gerald Ford and, in her own right, her advocacy for women’s reproductive choice, equal rights, breast cancer awareness and addiction treatment.

She turned her own fight with prescription pills and booze into the Betty Ford Clinic, before addiction treatment became a refuge for the rich, famous and spoiled.

Betty Ford penned two books in her lifetime, “The Times of My Life,” and “Betty: A Glad Awakening”. She was also advocated for the Equal Rights Amendment to help legalize abortion and allow women to join the armed forces, but her most impactful legacy is clearly the aforementioned addiction recovery clinic.

But it was her Betty Ford Center, a desert oasis in Rancho Mirage, CA.that rescued celebrities and ordinary people from addiction, that made her famous in her own right. She was modest about that accomplishment.

“People who get well often say, ‘You saved my life,’ and ‘You’ve turned my life around,”‘ she recalled. “They don’t realize we merely provided the means for them to do it themselves and that’s all.

Rest In Peace, you will forever be remembered for your kindness and courage.

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