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1969


Teeny, Marcel Duchamp's wife, came for luncheon April 9th. 1969, with her son, Peter Matisse and his wife, Paolo. It was the first time I had a chance to talk to her at length, and found her charming, sensitive and very much of a lady.

She told me that recently when they were in Spain Marcel had been in great pain, but that it had passed. Seveal times she said how glad she was that he had died in his sleep, without suffering, wi thout knowing death was at hand. She finally said that he had had cancer of the prostate, but fortunatly did not know it, and her relief was enormous that he had escaped the terrible pain he might have had to go through.

His last night they were with friends, dining, and Marvel had seemed especailly gay. She could not have wished for him to have lingered in pain, and her relief that he was spared, softened grief at his passing.