Johnson died on October 11 at her Manhattan home after a severe stroke. She was 81, according to Humans of New York and her son, Mitchell Springle. Her story reached global fame in 2019, when Humans of New York founder Brandon Stanton met her in Chelsea and shared her life in a 33-part series that captivated millions. A GoFundMe raised more than $2.5 million for her medical care, and her 2022 memoir, Tanqueray, became a bestseller.

Behind the bravado was a survivor and born storyteller. As she once said, beneath all the jokes and glamour, it was always about one thing: survival.
RIP, Tanqueray—long live the legend.