Wife of Charlie Hebdo Victim: Georges Wolinski Wrote 47-Year Love Story on Post-Its

Wife describes how Georges Wolinski would leave her love notes.

ByABC News
March 9, 2015, 3:58 PM
French writer Maryse Wolinski is pictured with her husband, cartoonist Georges Wolinski, on July 5, 2001.
French writer Maryse Wolinski is pictured with her husband, cartoonist Georges Wolinski, on July 5, 2001.
Eric Fougere/Kipa/Corbis

— -- The wife of Georges Wolinski, one of the 12 victims of the Charlie Hebdo massacre, revealed the secret of their 47-year-long love story: Post-its.

“Good night my darling” hangs on their bedroom door.

Hundreds of others are scattered around their apartment.

PHOTO: A note written by Georges Wolinski for his wife Maryse reads, "Good night my darling love."
A note written by Georges Wolinski for his wife Maryse reads, "Good night my darling love."

Maryse Wolinski told ABC News her husband had always written notes to her but started to do so increasingly in the past six years.

“When I was out late for work or with friends, I would come home and read his notes," she said. "I wasn’t happy when I didn’t get one!”

PHOTO: Hundreds of post-it notes written by Georges Wolinski are scattered through the apartment that he shared with his partner of 47 years, Maryse Wolinski, before his death in the Charlie Hebdo massacre on Jan. 7, 2015.
Hundreds of post-it notes written by Georges Wolinski are scattered through the apartment that he shared with his partner of 47 years, Maryse Wolinski, before his death in the Charlie Hebdo massacre on Jan. 7, 2015.

“He was a wonderful man,” she added. “Many of my friends were jealous of me, because he was simple, curious, a good listener.”

Maryse Wolinski always responded to the notes, and when her husband died, she found a folder with all the notes that she wrote.

PHOTO: "Darling, 9:00 p.m., I'm thinking of you. You are the woman of my life. Unfortunately life is short! See you tomorrow - I think we are going to the theater. Your husband, for 42 years. I love you. G."
A note written by Georges Wolinski for his wife Maryse reads, "Darling, 9:00 p.m., I'm thinking of you. You are the woman of my life. Unfortunately life is short! See you tomorrow - I think we are going to the theater. Your husband, for 42 years. I love you. G."

Talking about her late husband is painful, she said.

“We’ve been together for 47 years, we built a life together. Losing him is like losing a part of me,” Maryse Wolinski added.

“Our couple was strong because we based our relationship on freedom and equality but also because we were different from one another,” she said.

PHOTO: A note written by Georges Wolinski for his wife Maryse reads, "I love you. I have eaten some foie gras, some soup, a bit of galette. I am thinking of you. Until tomorrow my dear. I kiss you Maryse, darling. Georges."
A note written by Georges Wolinski for his wife Maryse reads, "I love you. I have eaten some foie gras, some soup, a bit of galette. I am thinking of you. Until tomorrow my dear. I kiss you Maryse, darling. Georges."

They had the same values, she added, but not always the same ideas, especially regarding his cartoons.

She said “a couple is like a cathedral, it takes a very long time to build.”

Together, they had reached the top.

PHOTO: A note written by Georges Wolinski for his wife Maryse reads, "9:30 p.m., Darling, after a couscous with my friend Nasser, I am going to bed thinking of your adorable smile. Good night. G."
A note written by Georges Wolinski for his wife Maryse reads, "9:30 p.m., Darling, after a couscous with my friend Nasser, I am going to bed thinking of your adorable smile. Good night. G."