Maryanne Trump Barry, the sister of former President Donald Trump, was discovered deceased in her Upper East Side apartment on Monday.
The 86-year-old resided on Fifth Avenue and was found at 4 am. The cause of death remains undisclosed as the Medical Examiner has yet to make an announcement. There were no indications of trauma.
Barry, a retired judge, was nominated to the federal bench by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. She acknowledged her brother's role in her nomination, stating, "Theres no question Donald helped me get on the bench." Her nomination was also supported by then-New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean. In 1999, President Clinton nominated her to the US Court of Appeals, a position she held until she became an inactive judge in 2016.
Despite her high-profile family, Barry preferred to maintain a low public profile. She retired from her position as a federal judge in 2019 at the age of 82. Born in 1937, she was the eldest of the five Trump siblings.
Barry's educational journey took her to Mount Holyoke College, followed by Columbia University where she earned a master's degree in 1962. She later attended Hofstra University, earning a law degree after the birth of her son, David Desmond, from her first marriage. She later married John Barry, who passed away in 2000.
Reflecting on her early career in law, Barry said, "My first job out of law school was as one of two women assistant US attorneys in an office of 63 US attorneys, and the first woman to do criminal work appearing only before male judges. Scared? Every day of my life."
She also spoke about her relationship with her brother, Donald Trump, saying, "I knew better even as a child than to even attempt to compete with Donald. I wouldn't have been able to win. He was building models when he was very young. Huge buildings."
Donald Trump, reflecting on his sister's advice after his controversial comments on Megyn Kelly, said, "She called me to say shes very proud. She said, Just be yourself. Of course, I dont know if thats good advice, but she said, Just be yourself and you do well, really well.
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