Margaret Josephs’ first husband, Jan Josephs, died “unexpectedly last week,” the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star announced Monday.
“Today would have been Jan’s 75th birthday,” Margaret wrote with a black and white photo on Instagram of her late husband. “He passed away unexpectedly last week and some of us died with him. We are devastated.”
Although the Bravolebrity, 55, did not reveal how Jan died, People reported that he had suffered a fatal heart attack.
Josephs said the two “had a wonderful conversation” the night before he died, in which they “bragged” about how “blessed” they felt to have children who were so “successful and happy.”
“We Talked Every Day” [sic]he was my family,” she said, calling Jan “a wonderful father, grandfather, friend [and] partner of his girlfriend.”
She added: “He loved everyone unconditionally. He loved Motown, sports and Italian food, but most of all he loved his family.”
As for the photo she selected for her online tribute, Margaret explained that it was “one of his favorites” and said she felt it reflected his “youthful spirit”.
“Happy birthday my angel “, she concluded.
Margaret’s friend and co-star Dolores Catania was one of the first people to respond to the post, writing, “Happy Heavenly Birthday Jan ❤️I hear the oldies play from here 😇🙌.”
Margaret married Jan in 1994, who was already the father of three children, aged 8 to 16. They then had one son.
The fashion designer has spoken candidly about how her affair with her current husband – her then-contractor, Joe Benigno – contributed to her divorce from Jan and caused major rifts in her relationships with all four children.
In 2013, the same year Margaret and Jan finalized their divorce, she said “I do” to Benigno, 68.
“I’m sorry how it went,” the “RHONJ” star told People in 2018. “But no one leaves a happy marriage.”
“Our marriage was over long before Joe came into the picture,” she added. “Jan knows what happened, and we’re good friends… we’re still a team.”