Greta Friedman, Woman Kissed in Iconic Times Square Photo, Dies at 92

Greta Friedman, the woman in the iconic photo taken in New York's Times Square where she is kissed by a sailor, has died. She was 92.

Friedman's son, Joshua Friedman, told CBS News she died Thursday and had been in an assisted living facility for the past two years with health complications.

The story of the iconic photo, which marked the end of World War II, came to be rather accidentally. Friedman, who worked as a dental assistant on Lexington Avenue, heard rumors that the Japanese had surrendered. She walked into Times Square, where she was grabbed by George Mendonsa, who kissed her because he was overjoyed that the war had ended.

That moment was captured by Life Magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt, and the photo became ubiquitous, recognized by people up until today. The moment was also captured by Navy photographer Victor Jorgensen.

Friedman will be laid to rest near her late husband Mischa Elliot Friedman.

Mendonsa, 93, lives in Rhode Island.

Image Credit: Victor Jorgensen via National Archives