Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir
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Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir IPA: [ˈkvʏðrun ˈkʰatrin ˈθɔrpɛrksˌtouhtɪr] (14 August 1934 — 12 October 1998) was the First Lady of Iceland 1996 — 1998. She was the first wife of Icelandic president Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson.
Guðrún Katrín was a multi-talented woman. She studied both archaeology and sociology, 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. She married Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson in 1974 and gave birth to twin daughters, Guðrún Tinna and Svanhildur Dalla, the following year.
Guðrún Katrín was very popular in Iceland, and her charisma is by many considered one of the main reasons her husband Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, was elected president of Iceland in June 1996, she charmed the nation right from the start of their campaign. 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. Her death after long and difficult battle, at the age of 64, was a tremendous shock to her family and the Icelandic nation.
After her death the crucial problem of flying her remains home was solved by an offer from Cargolux, the Luxembourg-based air freight company. Her family was flown with the casket to Iceland, arriving five days after her death. Guðrún Katrín's impact on the Icelandic presidency will always be remembered, although her time in the office with her husband was short.
