Kerry's former wife seeks privacy

By WALT WILLIAMS Chronicle Staff Writer

Julia Thorne of Bozeman has one request: To be left alone.

But that's not easy to do when you're the ex-wife of the man who may be the next president of the United States.

Thorne is the former wife of Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who at the moment looks to be the Democratic candidate for president.

She is also the mother of their two daughters, who are sometimes seen on the campaign trail with Kerry.

Thorne's name has been tossed around frequently in recent days as Kerry's public and private lives have come under increasing scrutiny by the media. But she's not granting interviews, family friend Jon Catton said Friday.

"Julia cherishes her privacy," he said. "She wants to be left alone."

One of the few interviews she has granted was to the Boston Globe, which ran a profile of her last March.

Thorne married Kerry in 1970, when she was 26, the newspaper reported. The couple separated in 1982 and divorced six years later.

She became severely depressed during the divorce. She later recounted her experiences in, "You Are Not Alone," her book about coping with depression.

She also is the author of "A Change of Heart," a work about dealing with divorce.

Thorne moved West several years ago, first living in Jackson Hole and then coming to Bozeman. She is married to architect Richard Charlesworth. The couple reportedly have been active in the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and in raising money for the new Bozeman Public Library.

Although she has said she believes Kerry would be a great president, Thorne wants to stay out of politics.

However, politics isn't so easy to shake off.

Conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh and columnist Ann Coulter have dragged up Throne's previous relationship with Kerry in hopes of somehow smearing the candidate's reputation. And the Chronicle was recently contacted by a British newspaper wanting information about Thorne and Montana's political climate.

Thorne, however, started treatments for cancer on Nov. 3 at an out-of-state facility, Catton said.

"She has several months of recovery ahead of her," he said. "This challenge is her sole focus now. It is the focus of her husband, her daughters, her friends.

"Julia does not want to answer questions from the media," he said. "She hopes her desire for privacy will be respected and honored thoroughly."

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