Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir
First Lady of Iceland
In role
1 August 1996 – 12 October 1998
PresidentÓlafur Ragnar Grímsson
Preceded byHalldóra Eldjárn
Succeeded byDorrit Moussaieff
Personal details
Born14 August 1934
Reykjavík, Iceland
Died12 October 1998(1998-10-12) (aged 64)
Seattle, Washington
Spouse(s)Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson
(1974-1998, her death)
Children4

Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir (pronounced [ˈkvʏðrun ˈkʰaːtrin ˈθɔrpɛrksˌtouʰtɪr̥]; 14 August 1934 – 12 October 1998) was the First Lady of Iceland from 1996 to 1998. She was the first wife of Icelandic president Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson.[1]

Guðrún Katrín studied archaeology and sociology. She was the General Manager of the Postal Workers Union for nearly 20 years, and managed a clothing store in downtown Reykjavík. She was also active in politics and held a city council post in the town of Seltjarnarnes for 16 years.[2] She married Ólafur in 1974 and the following year gave birth to twin daughters, Guðrún Tinna and Svanhildur Dalla.

Guðrún Katrín was very popular in Iceland, and her charm and charisma are considered by many as one of the main reasons her husband was elected president of Iceland in June 1996. Guðrún Katrín was diagnosed with leukemia in September 1997. She spent the last few months of her life under the care of specialists in Seattle, Washington, with her family by her side, until her death in October 1998.[3] Her death after a long and difficult struggle, at the age of 64, was a shock to her family and the Icelandic nation.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Guðrún katrín Þorbergsdóttir látin". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 13 October 1998. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  2. ↑ "Kona sem þjóðin mun minnast". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 14 October 1998. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  3. ↑ Gunnar Reynir Valþórsson (18 August 2008). "Guðrún Katrín fékk enga sérmeðferð". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  4. ↑ "Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir forsetafrú látin". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 14 October 1998. pp. 1, 6–7. Retrieved 23 August 2019.


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