Happy Birthday to Yoko Ono, who turns 87 today (February 18th)!!! Yoko was born in Tokyo to a musician turned extremely successful banker Eisuke Ono, who was a descendant of the Emperor of Japan. Yoko's mother, Isoko Ono, is the granddaughter of Zenjiro Yasuda, of the famed Yasuda banking family. Despite her contributions to the conceptual art world, she will forever be entwined both personally and artistically with late-husband, John Lennon.
Yoko Ono and son Sean Lennon were on hand on September 7th, 2018 at the Naumburg Bandshell in New York's Central Park for the dedication of the United States Postal Service's (USPS) John Lennon Commemorative Forever Stamp. Joining the Lennon's at the event was photographer Bob Gruen, Postmaster General/CEO Megan J. Brennan, and legendary New York City DJ Dennis Elsas. The stamps have been issued in a pane of 16, with a design aping a vinyl picture sleeve. The stamps themselves use a famed 1974 photo by Gruen, with the photo on the rear using the iconic 1971 Lennon shot of him at his English Tittenhurst Park estate recording “Imagine,” captured by Peter Fordham.
In February 2016, Yoko was hospitalized and released due to flu-like symptoms and dehydration. Although the rumors quickly spread that she had suffered a stroke, it was quickly announced by her longtime spokesperson Elliot Mintz that Yoko's health issues were fully under control. Yoko was brought to Mount Sinai St. Luke's — the same hospital, then known as Roosevelt Hospital — that Lennon was pronounced dead at in 1980. Son Sean Lennon tweeted the next afternoon: “Thanks again for everyone's concern. She's home and running about as usual. Just the flu in the end. I may go get a flu shot now. . .” Yoko has been seen in public several times over the past year — albeit not quite steady on her feet. She was recently photographed using the aid of a wheelchair.