Nancy Kissinger, widow of ex US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, dies at 92 in Connecticut

Nancy Kissinger, the wife of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, died Thursday, August 20, at her home in South Kent, Connecticut, at the age of 92, according to an announcement from her family.

The death of Nancy Kissinger, who was married to the late diplomat for more than four decades, was first reported by The New York Times.

Born Nancy Sharon Maginnes in Manhattan in 1934, she married Henry Kissinger in 1974 and became a familiar presence alongside him during his high-profile diplomatic career. Although she never officially held a diplomatic position, she frequently accompanied her husband on international missions, including trips to Russia, the Middle East and other parts of the world.


“To the men and women who know her well,” The New York Times quoted one friend as saying after the wedding, “Mrs. Kissinger is an intelligent, capable and warm woman, with a great deal of charm, a good sense of humor and an iron sense of integrity.”

Nancy and Henry Kissinger did not have children together. Henry Kissinger, who served as Secretary of State under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, died in November 2023 at the age of 100.

Nancy Kissinger is survived by her two stepchildren, Elizabeth Vandermark and David Kissinger, as well as five step-grandchildren.

Her brother Bristol died in the early 1980s, while her brother David died in 2020.