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Cynthia Lennon, Former Wife of John Lennon, Dies at 75

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Beatle John Lennon and his wife, Cynthia, sit in London Airport, England, before flying to the U.S. on Feb. 7, 1964.
Beatle John Lennon and his wife, Cynthia, sit in London Airport, England, before flying to the U.S. on Feb. 7, 1964.AP
By Charlotte Alter

Cynthia Lennon, the former wife of John Lennon and eyewitness to the early days of the Beatles, died in her home Wednesday at the age of 75.

Her death was confirmed by a publicist and on her son Julian Lennon’s Twitter page. She died in her home in Spain after a “short but brave battle with cancer,” according to a memorial page.

The Lennons met in art school before the Beatles got their start in Hamburg, and married in 1962 after Cynthia Lennon realized she was pregnant. Their marriage and subsequent birth of their son Julian was initially kept a secret, to avoid upsetting the growing Beatlemania, but Cynthia and Julian eventually got a front-row seat to the Beatles’ growing popularity in England and the U.S. The Lennons divorced in 1968, when John Lennon became involved with Yoko Ono.

Cynthia chronicled their marriage and her experience with the Beatles in two books, A Twist of Lennon (1978) and John (2010).

The Beatles Take America, 1964

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr pose in a portrait on a black backdrop in January 1964
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr pose in January 1964, just weeks before their historic first visit to America. John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Two days after their U.S. TV debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show," the Beatles play for 8,000 fans at their first American concert, at the Coliseum in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 1964. Ticket price: $3.
Two days after their U.S. TV debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, the Beatles play for 8,000 fans at their first American concert, at the Coliseum in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 11, 1964. Ticket price: $3. Stan Wayman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The Beatles joke and smoke at a press date in August 1964.
At press dates, like this one in August 1964 at the start of their U.S. tour, the Beatles offer typically wry remarks. John Lennon quips that he's writing a book called "Snore Wife and the Seven Dwarfs." Bill Ray—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The Beatles wave to fans as they arrive at the Los Angeles airport in August 1964 for a press conference at the start of their second American tour.
The Beatles arrive at Los Angeles airport for a press conference in August 1964.Bill Ray—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Police hold back a crowd of fans at the Los Angeles airport in August 1964.
Police hold back a crowd of fans in Los Angeles, where the Beatles are landing for a brief layover and a press conference before the start of their U.S. tour, August 1964.Bill Ray—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Beatles concerts, like this American show in 1964, are noisy affairs where screaming crowds drown out the band.
Beatles concerts, like this American show in 1964, are noisy affairs where screaming crowds drown out the band. Even with their amplifiers, Lennon marvels after a show, "We still couldn't beat 'em." Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
John, Paul, George and Ringo in a (very, very cold) Miami swimming pool in February 1964.
John, Paul, George and Ringo in a (very, very cold) Miami swimming pool in February 1964. John Loengard—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

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Write to Charlotte Alter at charlotte.alter@time.com