Ivana Trump, Donald Trump’s first wife, dies at 73

NEW YORK: Former President Donald Trump’s first wife and mother of his three eldest children, Ivana Trump, has died, her family said on Thursday. She was 73 years old.
 
“I am deeply saddened to inform everyone who loved her, of whom there are many, that Ivana Trump has passed away at her home in New York City.” “She was a wonderful, beautiful and wonderful woman, who led a great and inspirational life. Her pride and joy were her three children, Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric. She was so proud of them, because we all had so much in her.” Was proud. Rest in peace, Ivana!”
 
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Ivana Trump,” their children said in a statement. “Our mom was an incredible woman—a force in business, a world-class athlete, a radiant beauty, and a caring mother and friend. Ivana Trump was a survivor. She fled communism and embraced this country. She shared her children’s taught her about patience. And toughness, compassion and determination. She will be greatly missed by her mother, her three children and ten grandchildren.”

Police took action at her residence on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where she was found dead.
 
According to ABC, his death is not considered suspicious, and police say it appears he died of natural causes.

Ivana Trump et sa filee lavanca au defile Jean-Louis Sherer Le 27 Juliette 1992 Paris, France. (Photo by William Stevens/Gamma-Rafo via Getty Images)
Ivana Trump, nee Zelnikova, was born on February 20, 1949, in Czechoslovakia, and went on to become a competitive skier.
 
In 1971, she married Alfred Winklemaier, an Austrian ski instructor and friend, so that she could obtain Austrian citizenship – and leave communist Czechoslovakia. They got divorced in 1973.

Then she moved to Canada, working as a ski instructor and model.
 
She met Donald Trump in 1976 during a modeling trip to New York City. They got married the following year.

Their relationship was a source of tabloid fodder. He divorced in 1992 after his affair with actress Marla Maples.

Donald Trump married Marla Maples in 1993. She gave birth to their fourth child, Tiffany Trump, in the same year. They got divorced in 1999.

In 2005, Trump married Slovenian model Melania Knauss and the mother of their son Barron, who was born a year after their marriage.