Julia Thorne's obituary in the Globe today

[Mass]

To answer to the questions yesterday, sadly, the rumor was true.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2006/04/28/julia_thorne_at_61_author_activist_was_ex_wife_of_senator_kerry/

[MH1]

1. Aw man.

:cry:

This is terribly sad.

I saw the dailykos diary yesterday and didn't want to comment about it unless/until it was confirmed in the news.

I am so sorry that it is true.

One thing that amazed me is that John and Julia managed to stay friends after their divorce, and she strongly supported his candidacy for president. The right tried to dig up dirt from the divorce and just couldn't. I don't know what the statistics are, but of all the people I know who are divorced, very few have a relationship with their ex that could be characterized as "friendship", as was the case with John and Julia. This was one more factor in my realizing what an exceptional and decent person he must be.

I am sure Julia will be sadly missed. My heart goes out to the family.

[fedupinBushcountry]

2. How sad

My deepest sympathies to Vanessa and Alexandra they loved their mother dearly. I know Senator Kerry is taking this hard and being there to help comfort his two lovely daughters and his good friend David Thorne.

This is very sad. She was a lovely lady.

[Island Blue]

3. How very sad.

My heart goes out to Alex, Vanessa and the entire family. Julia was no doubt an incredible woman and mother to have raised two such classy and intelligent daughters. This is heartbreaking.

[globalvillage]

4. How sad.

Condolences to the family.
Sounds like she was a special woman, and a great mom.
Rest in peace, Julia.

[_dynamicdems]

5. This is just so terribly sad.

After having just watched "Going Upriver" again the other day and seeing the photographs of John Kerry and Julia Thorn back then, this is just so sad. My deepest sympathy to the family and to the senator and his daughters.

[ProSense]

6. Sadness!

My condolences to the families. Vanessa and Alex must be devastated, she was too young.

RIP Julia.


:cry: :cry: :cry:

[k j]

7. Sad, she was still young

this will be tough on her daughters.

[wisteria]

8. I was hoping what I was reading was incorrect, but sadly it wasn't.

Life is so unfair it seems.Two wonderful daughters left without a mother and a friend to share and talk over life experiences with.
She didn't even get the chance to hold a first grandchild. I couldn't imagine the grief of loosing a mother in my twenties. I am still blessed with mine. My heart and prayers go out to both girls and the rest of the family.

[TayTay]

9. My condolences to the family.

I am very sorry for your loss.

[sandnsea]

10. Oh this is so sad

I'm at least glad her last days weren't exploited and splashed all over the news. Poor girls, losing your mom is a very tough thing.

[kerrygoddess]

11. There was obviously a felt need

to respect the family's privacy.

[ginnyinWI]

12. How sad for all of them.

I'm glad JK has such a close relationship with Alex and Vanessa--they will be needing him to get through this. And I'm sure Teresa will be there too.

[ProSense]

13. This is posted in GD

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1047906&mesg_id=1047906


:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[karynnj]

14. I'm impressed that Vanessa had the strength to speak to the press

That had to be enormously hard for her. The Globe obituary is really well done. You can see why a young Kerry was absolutely captivated.

[demdiva]

20. Vanessa is amazing ...

An obvious tribute to her mom!

[demdiva]

15. Awe...I had no idea

That is incredibly sad

[Kerryvisionary]

16. Small tribute up at We Love John Kerry

We are saddened by this news.

http://welovejohnkerry.blogspot.com

[ElizabethDC]

18. I don't see anything . . .

The last post I see is from Wednesday.:shrug:

[jenndar]

21. I see it. Try refresing. n/t

[ElizabethDC]

17. So sad!!!

From everything I've read about her (mostly just in Tour of Duty), she seemed like a remarkable woman. This must be so sad on Alex and Vanessa - I know that they were really close to their Mom. My thoughts and prayers are with the whole family.

[LittleClarkie]

19. Could one of the Boston people send them a sympathy card

from us, please.

[politicasista]

22. Very sad

Condolences to the family. :-(

[fedupinBushcountry]

23. This at CNN

Julia Thorne with John Kerry as he campaigned for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts in 1982.

Julia Thorne, Sen. Kerry's ex-wife, dies

From Mark Preston
CNN Washington Bureau
Friday, April 28, 2006; Posted: 2:42 p.m. EDT (18:42 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Julia Thorne, the ex-wife of Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, died Thursday after a long battle with cancer, a Kerry spokesman confirmed to CNN.

Thorne, 61, was an author who overcame depression. She had separated from the Massachusetts senator just as his political career began a sharp upward trajectory. She chose instead to cede the spotlight to Kerry, and eventually moved to Montana with her second husband, Richard Charlesworth.

Kerry and Thorne have two daughters, Alexandra and Vanessa.

"Julia was the best mother two daughters could ask for," Kerry said in a statement released by his office. "She always put our kids ahead of everything. She was completely committed to them and their future. Julia fought a hugely courageous fight against cancer and she passed away with the same grace with which she lived. Everyone who knew her will miss her
beyond words."

more> http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/28/kerry.ex.wife.obit/

[Klimmer]

24. I'm so sorry . . .

I feel very sorry for JK and his daughters and Julia's family and her friends.

I also have real empathy. I can understand what the daughters had to go through and will go through.

My parents divorced when I was about 3 or 4. My mother had mental health issues, and died in 1989 when I was in my mid 20s and in college. I know how all of this feels. The grief and pain never go away, it just gets more tolerable.

I hope they find the peace and comfort they seek with their father, family and loved ones.

Life is very sad some times. I wish peace and comfort to all of them.

[ray of light]

25. thread here to post on if you want.

http://www.democracycellproject.net/blog/archives/2006/04/julia_stimson_t.html

[jillan]

30. This is very sad news.

She sounded like a wonderful person whenever I read about her.

A great loss.

Hugs to her family, and all those that loved her.

[benny05]

26. Thanks, I will send a note

Sad

[benny05]

27. Thanks for posting this Kerrycrats

I posted this on my blog..http://bennycat.blogspot.com

Sad day indeed for the Kerry family.

[benny05]

32. And I posted this news on the OAC Blog

I know Elizabeth and John Edwards would want to know this news.

[JohnKleeb]

28. That is too young

Very sad I hadn't heard this.

[BlueIris]

29. Here's wishing the family the best during this difficult time.

Ouch.

[zann725]

31. What saddening news. To JK and his daughters, my heartfelt condolences

The obituary (though I usually never read these things) was 'thoughtfully' written, and told me a great deal about Julia I did not know. It seems especially saddening since it was NOT JK she primarily "divorced," but the ugliness of "politics."

Which must make JK's loss (and his related feelings over the years) especially saddening. Especially since to him, "Politics" IS his Life. To have to choose. Plus, there is "something" about one's first young love...and the memories he and Julia shared through such young, formative years in both their lives.

(BOTH their daughters DO resemble her. Certainly "Alex" more, but still both do.) My heartfelt sympathy to JK AND his daughters, AND Julia...that she did not live long enough to see him Prez one day soon.

And like most of us at DU, my deepest sadness at JK's 'loss.' Julia appears to have been such a lovely person. Though she chose instead a reclusive life, her affection for John (I sense) continued deeply through the years.

My healing and "supportive" thoughts to his family this day and always.

[WildEyedLiberal]

33. Rest in peace, Julia

My heart goes out to Vanessa, Alex, and Julia's family, as well as to JK.