John Lennon‘s first wife and mother to their son Julian, Cynthia Lennon, has succumbed to cancer at the age of 75.
News of Lennon''s death comes courtesy of a short press release that reads, "Cynthia Lennon passed away today at her home in Mallorca, Spain, following a short but brave battle with cancer. Her son Julian Lennon was at her bedside throughout. The family are thankful for your prayers. Please respect their privacy at this difficult time".
Cynthia Powell met John Lennon in 1957 at the Liverpool College of Art, which she attended after graduating from the city's Junior Art School. They married in August 1962, just before Beatlemania transformed her husband into one of the most famous men in the world. At the height of The Beatles' early success she was, at the insistence of the band's management, kept in the background so their legions of female fans were not aware of her existence. She stayed at home bringing up Julian while the Fab Four toured the world and topped the charts.
The couple divorced in 1968 after Cynthia discovered her husband's affair with Japanese artist Yoko Ono.
Cynthia remarried after the divorce, but her relationship with John remained a topic of interest that occasionally paid the bills; she published her first memoir, A Twist of Lennon, in 1978, with another volume, simply titled John, in 2005.
"I've had the most amazing life, a wonderful life", Cynthia reflected during an interview. "I've got the best son anyone could possibly wish for in the world and a marriage to a wonderful man also. Sounds very gushing, but I'm really happy. And all the experience has not spoiled anything for me, I promise you. I still open my eyes in the morning and feel a beautiful, sunny day in Spain and think how lucky I am".