Cars frontman Ric Ocasek's widow Paulina Porizkova 'utterly devastated' by his death, thanks 'great outpouring of love'
Paulina Porizkova has broken her silence about the death of her estranged husband, Cars frontman Ric Ocasek, revealing that he had "peacefully passed on" in his sleep.
MEAWW previously reported that Ocasek was discovered dead on Sunday, September 15, in his Manhattan apartment. The New York Police Department said that their officers found the 75-year-old at around 4 pm after responding to a 911 call. They said that there were no signs of foul play, with the New York City medical examiner ruling that Ocasek died of heart disease, worsened by emphysema.
Porizkova had previously posted a picture of the bouquets that had been left outside the New York City townhouse that she and the Rock n' Roll Hall of Famer shared with the caption, "Thank you."
In a more detailed post on her Instagram today, Porizkova revealed how she found out that Ocasek had died.
"Ric was at home recuperating very well after surgery," she wrote. "Our two sons, Jonathan and Oliver, and I were making sure he was comfortable, ordering food and watching TV together. I found him still asleep when bringing him his Sunday morning coffee. I touched his cheek to rouse him. It was then I realized that during the night he had peacefully passed on."
"We appreciate the great outpouring of love," she continued. "We, his family and friends, are completely and utterly devastated by his untimely and unexpected death and would appreciate the privacy to mourn in private."
Ocasek grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and his family moved to Cleveland when he was a teenager. After graduating high school he had stints at Antioch College and Bowling Green State University in the mid-1960s before dropping out to pursue music.
His death comes after Porizkova announced on social media last year that she and the 75-year-old had separated after 28 years of marriage. The pair had first met while filming the music video for Cars hit "Drive."
Announcing the separation last year, Porizkova wrote, "Our family always has been -- and still is -- a well-built car. When the four of us are together, we can go wherever the road takes us. But as a bicycle, my husband and I no longer pedal in unison. So we’re ditching the bicycle. Ric and I have been peacefully separated for the past year. The photos of our happy family are, in fact, happy family photos; we are just no longer a couple."
Ocasek leaves behind six sons, two from each of his marriages.
