By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Ivana Trump, who fled Czechoslovakia and found fame in New York as a socialite and the first wife of Donald Trump, was remembered as a woman who “left a lasting legacy.”
Ivana Trump died Thursday in New York at the age of 73. Her death was announced by Donald Trump in a statement on Truth Social, the social media site the former president announced last year. Ivana and Donald Trump were married from 1977 until 1992.
The couple had three children -- Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric.
A former model, the former Ivana Zelnickova held key positions in Donald Trump’s company, the Trump Organization.
The Florida Republican Party, based in Donald Trump’s current state of residence, tweeted that Ivana Trump “left a lasting legacy and will be missed by many.”
Kayleigh McEnany, who was Donald Trump’s White House press secretary from April 2020 until his term ended in January 2021, tweeted that she and her family “send all of our love and prayers to President Trump.”
“Thinking of you all during this very difficult time.”
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who also served as the former president’s attorney, called Ivana Trump a “truly talented, creative and beautiful person.”
“Remarkably, with all the massive distractions, she and President Donald J. Trump gave the world exceptionally good, balanced and decent children and grandchildren,” Guiliani tweeted.
Rick Scott, Florida’s junior senator and the state’s former governor, said in a statement that he and his wife were “heartbroken” to hear of Ivana Trump’s death.
“She will always be remembered for her success in the business world, but those who knew her saw that nothing was more important to Ivana than her family,” Scott said.
British broadcaster Piers Morgan tweeted his condolences, adding that Ivana Trump was “a fabulously entertaining lady and great interviewee who remained fiercely loyal to her ex-husband Donald.”
1980 NEW YORK, NY - 1980: Donald Trump and Ivana Trump attend Roy Cohn's birthday party in February 1980 in New York City. (Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images)
1982 American businessman Donald Trump and his wife Ivana smile as they attend a formal party, 1982. (Tom Gates/Getty Images)
1987 Ivana Trump, Donald Trump's first wife, onboard helicopter enroute from Atlantic City to New York City, 1987 (Joe McNally/Getty Images)
1987 Donald Trump with first wife, Ivana, at their Greenwich, Ct. mansion in 1987 (Joe McNally/Getty Images)
1988 NEW YORK CITY - DECEMBER 7: (L-R) Ivana Trump, Liza Minnelli and Martha Graham attend Martha Graham Dance Benefit on December 7, 1988 in New York City. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
1991 Ivana Trump and Brooke Shields during 4th Gourmet Gala to Benefit March of Dimes at Plaza Hotel in New York City, New York, United States. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
1992 Ivana Trump et sa fille lvanka au defile Jean-Louis Scherrer le 27 juillet 1992 a Paris, France. (William STEVENS/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
1992 CLARIDGES HOTEL: OSCAR DE LA RENTA FASHION SHOW (Tim Graham/Corbis via Getty Images)
1993 Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Ivana Trump, and Maria Zelnicek (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
2003 Socialite Ivana Trump (L) and boyfriend Rossano Rubicondi attend model Naomi Campbell's birthday party at Nikki Beach on May 24, 2003 in St. Tropez, France. (Scott Gries/Getty Images)
2003 NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 18: Ivana Trump and an unidentified companion attend the Oscar de la Renta Spring/Summer 2003 Collection at the Theater in Bryant Park during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week September 18, 2002 in New York City. (Matthew Peyton/Getty Images)
2007 Rossano Rubicondi and Ivana Trump celebrate their engagement with Donald Trump Jr., and Ivanka Trump at their side, at Italian singer Nicola Congiu's private performance at 500 Park Avenue on October 15, 2007 in New York City. (Duffy-Marie Arnoult/WireImage)
2006 NEW YORK - APRIL 30: Ivana Trump and producer Rudy Durand arrive to the Broadway opening of "Hot Feet" at the Hilton Theater on April 30, 2006 in New York City. (Brad Barket/Getty Images)
2007 NEW YORK - OCTOBER 29: Ivana Trump appears onstage at the 2007 Angel Ball sponsored by LEVIEV to benefit the G&P Foundation for Cancer Research at the Marriott Marquis hotel in New York on October 29, 2007. (Stephen Lovekin)
2008 NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 08: Tennis player Serena Williams and Ivana Trump backstage at the Luca Luca Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Promenade, Bryant Park on September 8, 2008 in New York City. (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for IMG)
2008 NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 07: TV personality Star Jones and Ivana Trump attend the Baby Phat Spring 2008 Fashion Show at Roseland Ballrom during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2008 on September 7, 2007 in New York City. (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
2011 CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 19: Ivana Trump attends the David Morris Lunch at Carlton Beach during the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Francois Durand/Getty Images)
2011 NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 18: (L-R) Socialites Donald Trump Jr., Ivana Trump, Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump attend the Ivana Living Legend Wine Collection launch at Ten East 64th Street on October 18, 2011 in New York City. (Ben Hider/Getty Images)
2013 NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 30: Ivana Trump and Lee Mellis attend the exhibition of artwork featuring Giovanni Perrone and hosted by Ivana Trump and MarkAntonio Rota on April 30, 2013 in New York City. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images)
2014 BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY - SEPTEMBER 15: Ivanka Trump, Ivana Trump and Eric Trump attend the 8th Annual Eric Trump Golf Tournament at Trump National Golf Club Westchester on September 15, 2014 in Briarcliff Manor, New York. (Bobby Bank/WireImage)
2014 NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 20: (L-R) Star Jones, Ivana Trump, Gabrielles Angel Foundation President and Co-founder Denise Rich attend Angel Ball 2014 hosted by Gabrielle's Angel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on October 20, 2014 in New York City. (Cindy Ord)
2014 NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Ivana Trump, Denise Rich and Star Jones attend the Angel Ball launch party at TAO on October 7, 2014 in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy)
2015 BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY - SEPTEMBER 21: Ivana Trump attends the 9th Annual Eric Trump Foundation Golf Invitational Auction & Dinner at Trump National Golf Club Westchester on September 21, 2015 in Briarcliff Manor, New York. (Grant Lamos IV/Getty Images)
2015 MIAMI BEACH, FL - DECEMBER 01: Ivana Trump attends DuJour Magazine's Jason Binn Celebrates Annual Art Basel Miami Beach Kick-Off Party at Delano Beach Club on December 1, 2015 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Astrid Stawiarz)
2015 BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY - SEPTEMBER 21: Ivana Trump and Eric Trump attend the 9th Annual Eric Trump Foundation Golf Invitational Auction & Dinner at Trump National Golf Club Westchester on September 21, 2015 in Briarcliff Manor, New York. (Grant Lamos IV/Getty Images)
2018 NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 22: Ivana Trump attends the 2018 Angel Ball at Cipriani, Wall Street on October 22, 2018 in New York City. (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)