Lennon’s ex-wife dies
Cynthia Lennon described as his ‘first real love’
Cynthia Lennon, the late John Lennon’s first wife, whose existence was once largely hidden from early Beatles fans, has died. She was 75 and suffered from cancer.
Julian Lennon, her musician son with John Lennon, announced the news on Twitter and a memorial webpage.
His message said she died at her home in Mallorca, Spain, following a short battle with cancer. Julian, 51, was with her at her bedside at the time.
“The family are thankful for your prayers. Please respect their privacy at this difficult time,” the message on the website read.
Julian also posted a musical tribute to his mother, who was married to John Lennon from 1962 to 1968.
The lyrics on the memorial webpage begin, “You gave your life for me, you gave your life for love.”
Cynthia Powell, born in 1939, met John Lennon in the 1950s when both attended the Liverpool College of Art.
They wed in 1962 in Liverpool, where Julian was born in 1963.
Although then unknown outside Liverpool, the Beatles had a fanatical following in their hometown and their manager Brian Epstein wanted the marriage and baby kept secret.
It didn’t last. Soon after, full-on Beatlemania swept the U.K. and Europe and the se- cret came out.
Cynthia did not have an easy time being a first Beatle wife: Both she and his biographers have described him as controlling and short-tempered.
Five years later, Lennon left her for Yoko Ono, after she discovered them together in her own home.
Cynthia and John divorced in 1968.
Cynthia went on to marry and divorce or partner with four other men.
She published her memoirs, “A Twist of Lennon,” in 1978, which told the story of their marriage, and a Lennon biography, “John,” in 2005.
“John” detailed his relationship with Julian after the divorce and Julian’s story after John was assassinated on Dec. 8, 1980, in New York City.
She and her son, who has said he felt abandoned by his father when he was young, remained close.
In 2006, Cynthia and Julian attended the Las Vegas première of a Cirque du Soleil production of “Love,” her first public appearance with Ono.
She was less well known in the U.S. compared to the U.K., where obituaries began landing online within minutes of the news.
The Telegraph’s obit described her as John’s “first real love,” who was with him for half his half his adult life, as Julian regularly pointed out.
“He resented pop historians relegating his mother to ‘a puff of smoke in Dad’s life,’” The Telegraph wrote.