Phyllis Minkoff is known by many people because she was once married to television host Maury Povich, but her real story reaches far beyond that connection, as she built a meaningful life through her work in communications, her support for social and political causes, and her deep dedication to her family, and her journey shows how a quiet, steady, and thoughtful person can make a lasting impact without seeking attention or fame, making her life an inspiring example of strength, care, and personal purpose.
Profile Summary
| Personal Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Phyllis Minkoff |
| Date of Birth | February 15, 1941 |
| Age | Early 80s |
| Birthplace | Washington, D.C., USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Jewish |
| Profession | Communications & Public Relations Specialist |
| Father | Hyman Joseph Minkoff (Business Owner, Acme Liquors) |
| Mother | Ida Minkoff (Homemaker) |
| Sibling | Brother: Larry Minkoff |
| First Husband | Maury Povich (m. 1962, div. 1979) |
| Children With First Husband | Susan Anne Povich, Amy Joyce Povich |
| Second Husband | Phillip Baskin (m. 1980, d. 2005) |
| Children With a Second Husband | Shoshana Nudel, Janice Gondelman |
| Residence | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Political Views | Supported Democratic leaders and women’s rights groups |
| Charity Work | Animal welfare, community programs, social causes |
| Net Worth (Estimated) | Around $1 million |
| Known For | Communications work, political activism, philanthropy, and being the first wife of Maury Povich |
Early Life and Family Background
Phyllis Minkoff was born on February 15, 1941, in Washington, D.C., and she grew up in a close Jewish family that taught her the importance of honesty, kindness, and working hard, and her early years were shaped by the busy atmosphere of the capital city, her father’s liquor store where she saw how people communicated and built trust, and her mother’s caring guidance that helped her learn patience and responsibility, all of which played a strong role in shaping the values and interests she carried into her adult life.
Age and Looks
Phyllis Minkoff was born in February 1941, which places her in her early eighties today, and although she has always kept her personal appearance private, she is known for carrying herself with a calm, graceful, and gentle presence that reflects her warm personality and quiet confidence.
Educational Background
Phyllis Minkoff’s exact schooling is not publicly known, but it is clear from her later career that she developed strong communication skills early in life, and growing up in Washington, D.C., surrounded by public events, speeches, and political discussions helped her learn how messages shape opinions, while her natural talent for speaking clearly, understanding people, and staying organized guided her toward the field of communications and public relations, where she would later build a steady and respected career.
Career in Communications and Public Relations
Phyllis Minkoff built a long and steady career in communications and public relations, working behind the scenes to help organizations, political groups, and community programs share their messages clearly and connect with the public in meaningful ways, and she became known for her calm approach, strong planning skills, and ability to handle sensitive situations, while also supporting Democratic campaigns and advocacy groups through thoughtful messaging and outreach, earning respect for her quiet dedication and her ability to communicate with honesty, clarity, and purpose.
Marriage to Maury Povich
In 1962, Phyllis married Maury Povich, who was then an ambitious young journalist working in Washington, D.C. Their lives blended easily at first because both of them were building careers in communication-related fields, and they started a family together while working hard to support each other. They had two daughters, Susan Anne and Amy Joyce, and Phyllis raised them with the same values she grew up with: discipline, hard work, and kindness.
Susan would later become a lawyer and then a restaurant owner, while Amy followed a creative path as an actress and eventually married Dr. David Agus, a well-known doctor. During these years, Maury’s career expanded quickly, and he became a more public figure, while Phyllis continued to manage the home and maintain her own work quietly.
The pressure of growing careers and family responsibilities eventually created distance between them, and after seventeen years of marriage, they divorced in 1979. Maury later spoke openly about how focusing too much on work and not enough on family affected their relationship. For Phyllis, the divorce was not the end but the beginning of a new chapter as she rebuilt her life with strength and determination.
Who Is Maury Povich?
Maury Povich is a well-known American television host who became famous for his long-running talk show “Maury,” where he covered emotional family stories, relationship issues, and the widely recognized DNA test segments that became a major part of pop culture, and before reaching national fame he worked as a journalist and news reporter in Washington, D.C., slowly building his career through hard work and a strong presence on screen, which eventually made him one of the most familiar faces in daytime television for many years.
Children From First Marriage
Phyllis and Maury had two daughters, Susan Anne and Amy Joyce, and she raised them with strong values of independence, discipline, and kindness. Susan became a lawyer and later shifted into the culinary world, becoming a chef and co-owner of a restaurant in New York. Amy chose a creative path and became an actress before later marrying Dr. David Agus, a well-known medical specialist. Both daughters followed unique careers and grew up inspired by their mother’s strength and dedication.
Second Marriage and Family Life
In 1980, Phyllis married attorney and Pittsburgh city councilman Phillip Baskin, a man known for his commitment to community service and public life. Moving into a new home and a new city gave her a fresh start, and together they created a warm and active household filled with strong values and new responsibilities. They had two daughters, Shoshana and Janice, adding new joy and new challenges to Phyllis’s life as she balanced four children from two marriages.
Phillip’s political career blended naturally with her communication skills, and they supported each other’s work with respect and teamwork. Sadly, Phillip developed Alzheimer’s disease, and his illness lasted many years before he passed away in 2005. Phyllis cared for him throughout his illness with quiet strength and deep loyalty, showing her dedication to family even during painful times. This period of caregiving reflected the heart of who she was: a woman who stood by her loved ones no matter how difficult life became.
Children From a Second Marriage
With Phillip, Phyllis had two more daughters, Shoshana and Janice, and she cared for them with the same devotion and guidance she gave her older daughters. Growing up in Pittsburgh gave them a calmer and more community-focused environment, and Phyllis worked hard to balance family life across both marriages. Her four daughters became her greatest pride, and she encouraged each of them to build their lives with confidence and independence.
Political and Social Activism
Throughout her adult life, Phyllis stayed involved in political and social causes that reflected her belief in fairness and equal opportunity. She supported Democratic leaders such as Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Joe Kennedy III, helping them by sharing her communication skills and by supporting their visions for social progress. She believed strongly in women’s rights, and she worked with groups that pushed for better opportunities for women and families.
She also supported organizations focused on social justice and community improvement. Her activism was never loud or public because she preferred to help quietly and thoughtfully, using practical skills rather than seeking attention. People who worked with her appreciated her honesty, her caring nature, and her steady commitment to causes that touched her heart.
Philanthropic Efforts
Phyllis also devoted time to charity work and community programs, especially those that helped animals, families, and people in need. She supported many local animal shelters because she cared deeply about animal welfare, and she used her communication skills to help raise awareness and support for their work.
She also took part in community organizations that focused on health services, family planning, and social education. Her giving nature showed through her actions rather than her words, and she always believed that helping others was simply the right thing to do. Her kindness reached beyond her immediate family and touched many lives in her community.
Personal Traits and Lifestyle
People who knew Phyllis described her as calm, wise, thoughtful, and steady. She lived simply but with purpose, choosing a quiet life instead of public attention. She followed the news closely, stayed interested in political issues, and enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. She believed in honesty, fairness, and personal responsibility, and she tried to live those values every day. Her life showed that a person does not need fame to influence others. Sometimes the strongest impact comes from kind actions, supportive words, and steady dedication to the people and causes that matter.
Later Years
After her husband Phillip passed away, Phyllis continued living in Pittsburgh, where she enjoyed peaceful days surrounded by family memories and the comfort of a familiar community. She stayed active in small ways, keeping up with politics, supporting causes she cared about, and staying close with her daughters. Reports say she lives comfortably, with an estimated net worth of around one million dollars, earned through her long career in communications and responsible living. In her eighties, she remains a symbol of quiet dignity and warm strength.
Her Legacy
Phyllis Minkoff’s legacy is shaped by her steady work in communications, her deep commitment to family, and her support for causes that helped others, and although she never lived in the public spotlight, she made a lasting impact by raising four daughters with strong values, contributing to political and social efforts she believed in, and showing through her actions that meaningful influence often comes from quiet dedication, compassion, and the way a person chooses to live each day.
Phyllis Minkoff Net Worth
Phyllis Minkoff has an estimated net worth of about one million dollars, a result of her many years of steady work in communications and public relations where she helped organizations, campaigns, and community groups share their messages clearly and effectively, and her financial stability reflects her careful planning, professional dedication, and simple lifestyle, showing that her success came from her own hard work rather than public fame or media attention.
Conclusion
Phyllis Minkoff’s life shows how a person can make a real and lasting impact through steady work, strong values, and quiet dedication, as she built a meaningful career in communications, supported important social and political causes, raised four daughters with care, and lived with kindness and purpose without ever seeking fame, and her story reminds us that true strength often comes from simple actions, thoughtful choices, and the way we support the people and communities around us.
FAQs About Phyllis Minkoff
1. Who is Phyllis Minkoff?
Phyllis Minkoff is a communications professional best known as the first wife of TV host Maury Povich, but she is also known for her own career, activism, and family life.
2. When was Phyllis Minkoff born?
She was born on February 15, 1941, in Washington, D.C.
3. What did Phyllis Minkoff do for a living?
She worked in communications and public relations, helping groups share their messages clearly and supporting political and community causes.
4. Who were Phyllis Minkoff’s husbands?
Her first husband was Maury Povich, whom she married in 1962 and divorced in 1979. Her second husband was attorney and councilman Phillip Baskin, whom she married in 1980.
5. How many children does she have?
She has four daughters: Susan Anne and Amy Joyce with Maury Povich, and Shoshana and Janice with Phillip Baskin.
6. Where does Phyllis Minkoff live now?
She currently lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
7. What causes does she support?
She has supported Democratic political campaigns, women’s rights groups, animal welfare, and community programs.
8. What is Phyllis Minkoff’s net worth?
Her estimated net worth is around one million dollars, earned through her long and steady career in communications.