The sailor shown kissing a woman in Times Square celebrating the end of World War II has died. George Mendonsa, who lived in a Middleton, RI, senior living community with his wife, was 95.
When the iconic photo known as “The Kiss” was taken, Mendoza was on leave in New York City. Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt snapped the photo, which was published in “Life” magazine. The woman in the photo was Greta Zimmer Friedman, an Austrian-born Holocaust refugee and dental assistant.
Mendonsa spoke about the kiss when he was honored by Rhode Island State House in 2015. He said Friedman reminded him of nurses on a hospital ship that he saw care for wounded sailors. It became one of the most famous photographs of the 20th century.
