Irene Kampen (1922 – 1998) was an American author born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Great Neck. She attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison where she graduated with a degree in journalism in 1943. She then went on to work for the New York Journal American and other weekly newspapers.
Growing up, she wrote fiction while working at her father’s flower shop and also frequently contributed to the local newspaper. Her first book, Life Without George, was published in 1961 and became the basis for The Lucy Show starring Lucille Ball. Her other books include, Last Year at Sugarbush, (1965) Here Come the Bride, There goes the Mother (1967), and Are You Carrying Any Gold or Living Relatives (1970), among others, each based on her own experiences and relationship with her daughter. She also wrote for several magazines, worked as a columnist for local newspapers, and lectured around the world on cruise ships.
