Ric Ocasek’s estranged supermodel wife discovered he had died while bringing him coffee on Sunday — revealing in a statement that The Cars frontman was recovering from recent surgery.
“Ric was at home recuperating well after surgery,” Paulina Porizkova wrote in a statement published on Instagram Monday — calling the rock legend’s death “untimely and unexpected.”
“Our two sons, Jonathan and Oliver, and I were making sure he was comfortable, ordering food and watching TV together.
“I found him still asleep when bringing him his Sunday morning coffee. I touched his cheek to rouse him. It was then I realized that during the night he had peacefully passed on.”
Porizkova thanked fans for their support — sharing a photo of the small floral shrine which sprung up outside his Gramercy Park pad where fans and neighbors paid tribute to the iconic new wave rock star, 75.
“We appreciate the great outpouring of love. We, his family and friends, are completely and utterly devastated,” she wrote. The pair, who had been together for 28 years, announced their split in May 2018.
Neighbors stopped to pay their respects on Monday — with one fan dropping of a picture of The Cars’ 1978 debut album and another leaving behind a vintage toy car.
Locals who knew Ocasek described him as a “very sweet” and “gentle” man who was an unassuming fixture in the neighborhood and always happy to have a chat.
Lisa Chai, 46, stopped by on her way to work to pay her respects and left the toy car for the rock icon, describing his death as “very sad.”
“I was going to go get flowers but I feel like a car was more appropriate!” Chai said. “My son was born here and (Ocasek) would always pass by and say hello. He was so nice, so friendly.”
The “My Best Friend’s Girl” singer died naturally of heart disease, the city Medical Examiner’s Office said Monday.
Local Rebecca Spath grew up listening to Ocasek’s rock band and left behind a pink candle, telling The Post, “I wanted to honor him as a neighbor, as a musician and producer.”
“I left a candle, I didn’t have a car! I was hoping there would be flowers here today, I’m glad he’s being remembered,” she said.
Neighbor Julie Block told The Post she was grief-stricken as a fan of his music and as his neighbor.
“I first spoke to him about seven years ago, and I swear this is true, I was walking down the street and I was listening to The Cars and there he was!” Block said.
“I pulled an earphone out and I said, ‘I’m listening to you right now and you made my workout really happy!’ and he was very friendly,” she said.