[Obit] Julia Thorne, at 61; author, activist was ex-wife of Senator Kerry

boston.com ^ | April 28, 2006 | By Mark Feeney

[cloud8]

Julia Thorne, an author, activist, and former wife of US Senator John F. Kerry, died yesterday in Concord. She was 61.

The cause of death was transitional-cell carcinoma, a form of cancer, according to her daughter Vanessa Kerry.

In a telephone interview, John Kerry called Ms. Thorne "a great friend to a lot of people" and spoke with emotion of her accomplishments as a parent. "She was the best mom two daughters could want," he said. "She was completely committed to the kids and their future."

Her daughter echoed that view.

"She was a phenomenal mother," said Vanessa Kerry, of Cambridge. "And she affected many others, too. So many people have come up to me over the years, even on the campaign trail, to say how much of a difference her books made for them. People basked in her embrace of life."

[cloud8]

Kerry's first millionairess wife. R.I.P.

[FerdieMurphy]

She died of a broken heart.

I wonder how much money the Ketchup King was able to suck up before he ditched her?

[OldFriend]

Too bad her daughters glommed onto stepmoney rather than their mother.

RIP

[inkling]

Rest in peace.

[Brilliant]

All of the rich and famous women have been married to John Kerry at some point in their lives.

[raccoonradio]

From Wikipedia:
Kerry was married to Julia Thorne in 1970, and they had two children together. Alexandra Kerry was born on September 5, 1973, days before Kerry began law school. A graduate of Brown University, Alexandra received her M.F.A. in June 2004 from the AFI Conservatory. Vanessa Kerry was born on December 31, 1976. She is a graduate of Phillips Academy (like her grandfather) and Yale University, and is currently a student at Harvard Medical School. Vanessa was active in her father's 2004 Presidential campaign.

In 1982 Thorne, who was suffering from severe depression, asked Kerry for a separation. They were divorced on July 25, 1988. According the Washington Blade: "Kerry and Thorne finalized their divorce in 1988... After Thorne requested an increase in alimony in 1995, Kerry sought an annulment of their marriage from the Catholic Church, a move observers saw as retaliatory. Kerry eventually received the annulment from the Boston diocese despite Thorne’s vehement objections." [41] The marriage was formally annulled by the Roman Catholic Church in 1997.

"After 14 years as a political wife, I associated politics only with anger, fear and loneliness" she wrote in A Change of Heart, her book about depression. Thorne later married Richard Charlesworth, an architect, and moved to Bozeman, Montana, where she became active in local environmental groups such as the Greater Yellowstone Coalition.

Kerry and his second wife, Teresa Simões-Ferreira Heinz, the widow of Pennsylvania Senator H. John Heinz III, a Republican, and former United Nations interpreter, as well as a Bonesman legacy, were introduced to each other by John Heinz at an Earth Day rally in 1990.

[Rummyfan]

In a telephone interview, John Kerry called Ms. Thorne "a great friend to a lot of people" and spoke with emotion of her accomplishments as a parent. "She was the best mom two daughters could want," he said. "She was completely committed to the kids and their future."

That's why I dumped her and tried to have the marriage annulled, even though we had two children. Hypocrite!

[Rummyfan]

RIP Julia Thorne.

[cloud8]

> I wonder how much money the Ketchup King was able to suck up before he ditched her?

After the winter soldier testimony, Kerry married Julia Thorne. He ran unsuccessfully for Congress, scooped ice cream, went to BC law, became a Middlesex County prosecutor, was elected lt. governor. Kerry is a Forbes, but not from the rich branch of the family. He was elected to the US Senate in 1984 and ditched Julia four years later. I guess she suppported him 100% They say he was broke until he married Theresa Heinz.

[raccoonradio]

Annulment--basically an agreement that the first marriage never really happened? RFK's son Joe Kennedy (former
Congressman from JFK's former district) had an annulment from his first wife, Sheila Rauch, IIRC

from New Republic, by Michael Crowley:
"So, at this point in his life, the very last thing Joe Kennedy needed was what he got this spring, the publication of "Shattered Faith," a new book by his ex-wife, Sheila Rauch Kennedy, telling the world that the Catholic Church invalidated her 12-year marriage to Joe on the grounds that he lacked the "due discretion" to have married her -- which is to say that Joe didn't possess the elementary judgment to be trusted with the most basic decision of his life."

[miele man]

''I don't have a single reservation about this man," she said in 2003. ''He is an extraordinarily astute politician."

I presume Ms. Thorne was being politic in making these remarks. Surely, she was not this naive?

[stockstrader]

So he was married for EIGHTEEN YEARS, had TWO DAUGHTERS, and his marriage was ANNULLED? Say what?

Does that mean that in his mind it never really happened? Geeeeeez

[Enduring Freedom]

John Kerry was married before he wasn't married.

[netmilsmom]

She's so pretty! She must have been blinded with love to marry that qhoul.

God love her.
RIP

[fishtank]

Or...he was married before he was divorced?

So much nuance to explore.........

[OldFriend]

Even tho their marriage was broken and kerry was broke, he continued to live off his wife's largesse until he found someone new to scam.

[netmilsmom]

Wait, does that say qhoul?

qhoul= ghoul

[I still care]

I guess that is why he missed his interview with BOR the other day.

[raccoonradio]

from Wikipedia, again:
"Marriages that are annulled under the Catholic Church are usually considered as ab initio, meaning that the marriage has been essentially invalid from the beginning. Some Catholics therefore worry that their children will be considered illegitimate if they get an annulment. However, Canon 1137 of the Code of Canon Law specifically affirms the legitimacy of children born in both recognized and putative marriages (those later declared null). Critics point to this as additional evidence that a Catholic annulment is similar to divorce.

"An annulment verified by the Catholic Church is independent from obtaining a civil divorce, although before beginning a process in front of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal, it has to be clear that the marriage community cannot be rebuilt.

"If someone has all the signs of being married previously, he or she must get an annulment before entering into a marriage in the Catholic Church, even if the individual was not married in the Catholic Church previously."

[Steve Van Doorn]

This guy should write a book on how an ugly guy picks up on rich women.

[I still care]

"She was a phenomenal mother"

I don't know. From what I have seen of her daughters, I haven't been that impressed.

I don't care how old my daughter is. If she had shown up to an event with her boobies showing, I would have given her what for.

[Lizavetta]

In 1982 Thorne, who was suffering from severe depression, asked Kerry for a separation. They were divorced on July 25, 1988

That should have cleared it up, non?

[raccoonradio]

Oh, Kerry was broke all right. From a past FR post...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1173324/posts :

---

From a larger, 6 part story on Kerry from the Boston Globe:

"Kerry's personal life, meanwhile, was becoming increasingly tumultuous. He had separated from his first wife, Julia Thorne, in 1982, and the divorce became final in 1988. For much of their marriage, Julia, who came from a wealthy Long Island family, had provided significant financial contributions. The divorce left Kerry strapped for cash and looking for ways to meet child-support payments, campaign debts, and tuition costs.

(snip)
"Kerry acknowledges money "was tight" for him in those days. "I was spending all I had," he says. Regarding honoraria, which Congress banned in 1991, Kerry says: "I did not take honoraria from anyone who had anything in front of my committee."

"Kerry also signed on as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the fund-raising arm for Senate Democrats, for the 1987-1988 cycle. This would help him tap the network of national Democratic donors.

"Kerry's current wife, Teresa Heinz, calls the late 1980s his "gypsy period." For months at a time he had no fixed address and crashed instead with his daughters when Julia was away or with Julia's brother David."

[raccoonradio]

But look how J F'n K shut off, or cut down, his alimony to Julia...from above:

"Kerry and Thorne finalized their divorce in 1988... After Thorne requested an increase in alimony in 1995, Kerry sought an annulment of their marriage from the Catholic Church, a move observers saw as retaliatory. Kerry eventually received the annulment from the Boston diocese despite Thorne’s vehement objections." The marriage was formally annulled by the Roman Catholic Church in 1997.

Not sure if he was responsible to keep paying alimony after the marriage was annuled...

[DesignerChick]

Yes...I find him grotesque. How anyone could find him attractive is beyond me.

[Joe 6-pack]

"They say he was broke until he married Theresa Heinz."

I would argue that he will remain broke for the rest of his life, regardless of the size of his accounts.

[Steve Van Doorn]

”he was married before he was divorced?”

His marriage was annulled.

That means in John Kerry’s mind he was married before he wasn't married.

[AppyPappy]

The church annuled it, not the state.

[dead]

Yes...I find him grotesque. How anyone could find him attractive is beyond me.

Many find him quite attractive.

[fishtank]

Yes!

I knew MY little brain couldn't wrap itself around the nuance of John Forbes Thorne Gomez Ferrari Heinz.... or whatever else he calls himself....

Let's just call him "Dipstick".

[El Gato]

She's so pretty! She must have been blinded with love to marry that qhoul.

More likely blinded by left wing political fervor, which she, like other groupies, misinterpreted as love. JFnK of course was blinded by the dollar signs.

[raccoonradio]

ah---right.

[El Gato]

Not sure if he was responsible to keep paying alimony after the marriage was annuled...

Totally separate matters. The alimony would have stemmed from the civil divorce, the annulment is a matter of the Church's recognition of the marriage. Without the annulment, they were still married in the eyes of the Church, despite the civil divorce.

[fishtank]

Only for people who look for love on www.MeHarmony.com

[stockstrader]

Unfortunately, many women are 'blinded' by gigolos and professional con-artists (like John Kerry).

[peggybac]

"John Kerry was married before he wasn't married."

ROFLMAO!!

[raccoonradio]

Yup, but I wonder if he tried to get himself off of paying alimony by claiming "hey, the Church said my marriage never
really happened..." (Probably not but I'll bet the thought crossed his mind)

[Christian4Bush]

FIRST, thoughts and prayers to her family.

The question that may be heartless and,to use a recent term, "too soon", but must be asked, is that since her death was caused by a "cell"-related condition, how long will it take for the Left (be it a Democrat or Republican) to ramp up the language about stem-cell research, and to make it a campaign issue (again)?

Especially considering that Ms. Thorne was the wife of one of the most prominent Leftists in our government, and ran as such in his FAILED campaign for president?

[Steve Van Doorn]

don't make me sick. Kerry is most likely bald under that mop. They guy is such a fake.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"Kerry eventually received the annulment from the Boston diocese despite Thorne’s vehement objections." [41] The marriage was formally annulled by the Roman Catholic Church in 1997."

Does anyone know what grounds the Catholic Church used to decide that a marriage that they had confirmed, and that had produced children, didn't exist anymore?

Michael Frazier

[Gay State Conservative]

Kerry...helping America's rich manage their money...one wealthy widow at a time.

[from occupied ga]

Kerry eventually received the annulment from the Boston diocese despite Thorne’s vehement objections." [41] The marriage was formally annulled by the Roman Catholic Church in 1997

More proof that the Catholic hierarchy is in bed with the liberal Democrats

[PBRSTREETGANG]

RIP

(Hopefully her daughter, Alexandra, will choose a different dress for the funeral than the one she wore at Cannes in 2004.)

[cloud8]

> The question that...must be asked, is that since her death was caused by a "cell"-related condition, how long will it take for the Left (be it a Democrat or Republican) to ramp up the language about stem-cell research...

You can ask it, but please do so on another thread. Thanks.

[Dick Vomer]

Does anyone know what grounds the Catholic Church used to decide that a marriage that they had confirmed, and that had produced children, didn't exist anymore?

money .....of course

[stockstrader]

I guess in Kerry's mind, the marriage was never really 'consummated'.

[jamaly]

So he was married for EIGHTEEN YEARS, had TWO DAUGHTERS, and his marriage was ANNULLED? Say what?

If you have enough MONEY and are willing to lie, the Catholic Church will annul anyone's marriage. Case in point: I had a an uncle, by marriage, who was a multi-millionaire. He had been married 4 times, producing 3 children. We never could prove it; but, everyone in the family (including his son) believes that he murdered my husband's aunt, his 4th wife. The night she was murdered he moved in with his 29 year old mistress. He was the richest man in town and pretty much had ALL local authorities in his back pocket.

He had that marriage annulled, I'm not sure what he did about the others. The next year he had a huge wedding in the Catholic Church and either a Cardinal or Bishop performed the ceremony. I know he greased the palms of greedy church officials to get this accomplished.

[Mo1]

I didn't know she was ill

Sending prayers

[jamaly]

So he was married for EIGHTEEN YEARS, had TWO DAUGHTERS, and his marriage was ANNULLED? Say what?

If you have enough MONEY and are willing to lie, the Catholic Church will annul anyone's marriage. Case in point: I had a an uncle, by marriage, who was a multi-millionaire. He had been married 4 times, producing 3 children. We never could prove it; but, everyone in the family (including his son) believes that he murdered my husband's aunt, his 4th wife. The night she was murdered he moved in with his 29 year old mistress. He was the richest man in town and pretty much had ALL local authorities in his back pocket.

He had that marriage annulled, I'm not sure what he did about the others. The next year he had a huge wedding in the Catholic Church and either a Cardinal or Bishop performed the ceremony. I know he greased the palms of greedy church officials to get this accomplished.

[stockstrader]

Wow.

What do you have to lie about? So you can get it annulled even if one spouse if very strongly OPPOSED to that annullment? Why doesn't it take the concurrence of BOTH?