Nancy Kissinger, widow of the historic former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, died on Thursday at the age of 92, as reported by The New York Times and confirmed by various public figures on social media.
Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg paid an emotional tribute to her through his official X account:
"Nancy Kissinger was an extraordinary force of ideas and insight that she poured into public service and philanthropy throughout her life, as well as becoming Henry's closest and most trusted advisor. She was the diplomat par excellence: as wise as she was discreet, and I know with what devotion Henry admired and loved her. Diana and I were very fortunate to consider her a dear friend and to witness their extraordinary life partnership over the decades."
Despite not holding a formal diplomatic appointment, she played a key role on the international stage: she frequently accompanied her husband on high-level official missions around the world, including nuclear disarmament negotiations in the Soviet Union with Leonid Brezhnev and liaison diplomacy in the Middle East, and appeared alongside him in historic meetings with global leaders.
Born in Manhattan in 1934 under the name Nancy Sharon Maginnes, she met Kissinger through former New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, for whom she was a foreign policy advisor. The couple married in 1974, coinciding with Henry's tenure as the US Secretary of State.
After the death of Henry Kissinger in November 2023 at the age of 100, Nancy was survived by her two stepchildren, Elizabeth and David, and five grandchildren.