Cynthia Lennon, the first wife of John Lennon, died yesterday in her home in Mallorca, Spain, after a short battle with cancer. She was 75 and is survived by her son Julian Lennon.
Julian posted a tributary message on his website along with a video tribute to his mother, showing black and white pictures of her with the song "Beautiful" playing in the backdrop. Cynthia was the first wife of John, whose existence was kept under wraps so as not to scare away the Beatles' female fans.
Cynthia had met John in Liverpool College of Art in 1957. The two had an instant attraction as Cynthia reportedly broke off from her fiance at that time to date John.
"It was just an instant attraction...something about him that was for me," Cynthia once told interviewer Gary James, RollingStone reported. On discovering that Cynthia has conceived, the two decided to get married.
Cynthia and John married on August 23rd, 1962 at a London register's office in the presence of Paul McCartney, George Harrison, manager Brian Epstein and Cynthia's brother Tony and his wife as witnesses. The marriage happened at the time when Beatlemania was about to sweep the world.
In the following months, Beatles toured the world while Cynthia was left behind to take care of her newly born son, Julian. John was often reported to be dating multiple women. In 1968, Cynthia divorced John on discovering his bedroom antics with a Japanese artist, Yoko Ono, whom he married few years later.
By profession, Cynthia was a painter. She also wrote two books, revolving around her life with Beatles, during her lifetime. She moved on married a couple of men before settling down with a nightclub owner named Noel Charles.
It is a well know fact that Cynthia faced mistreatment and abuse at the hands of her famous singer husband. She was always kept away from the band's concerts and thus ended up living in solitude almost all her life.
Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney and her late ex-husband's wife Ono have also paid tribute to Cynthia in different statements. McCartney remembered her as a a good mother to Julian while Ono recalled her a strong zest for life.