Posted on 11/13/2007 9:44:49 AM PST by COUNTrecount
The husband of retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has struck up a romance with a woman who is a fellow Alzheimer's patient and lives at the same assisted living center as him, according to a television news report.
The retired justice isn't jealous about the relationship and is pleased that her husband is comfortable at the center, the couple's son, Scott O'Connor, told KPNX in Phoenix in a broadcast that aired Thursday.
"Mom was thrilled that dad was relaxed and happy," Scott O'Connor said. An effort by The Associated Press to reach Scott O'Connor on Tuesday morning was unsuccessful.
An official with the assisted living center was quoted as saying people with Alzheimer's need intimacy and sometimes develop romantic attachments with fellow patients.
John O'Connor was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 17 years ago and was sad when he moved into the assisted living center, his son said.
"Forty-eight hours after moving into that new cottage he was a teenager in love," Scott O'Connor said. "He was happy."
The news report showed video footage of John O'Connor holding hands with a woman identified only as "Kay." The retired justice wasn't shown in footage taken at the center.
Though Sandra Day O'Connor, 77, did not appear in the television report, it gave a rare look at the life of the nation's first female justice, USA Today reported. The family's willingness to highlight an aspect of a heart-wrenching illness recalled O'Connor's decision in 1994 to go public with her feelings about breast cancer.
In a speech to the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, she spoke about discovering the cancer in 1988 and undergoing a mastectomy, the paper reported.
Scott said, "For Mom to visit when he's happy … visiting with his girlfriend, sitting on the porch swing holding hands," was a relief after a painful period, according to USA Today.
The O'Connors, who have three children, met at Stanford Law School and married in 1952, according to the paper. John O'Connor left a partnership at a Phoenix law firm to come to Washington with his wife in 1981. He worked for D.C. law firms but was limited in his ability to take on matters that could come before the justices.
As her husband's disease became more difficult to handle, O'Connor retired, the paper reports.
I agree. To me this demonstrates her deep love for her husband. Her main concern is for him to have some peace and comfort and if this is a common type event in the lives of these patients then I can understand how she would be happy. This is NOT the husband she married and lived with all those years. That is a memory. This is her husband now that is another person and for her to be happy that he is happy says a lot about the love they have shared. I give her and her family credit for understanding this and behaving accordingly. God bless them all. As for the press trying to contact the son...they should for once in their pitiful lives mind their own damned business and take care of their own houses before they try to force their way into the lives of others.
Well since their son was interviewed and seemed to have no problem with it, why do you assume CBS is at fault and DON'T have the family's blessing to report this? I mean aside from their usual misplaced intentions.
He’s at a child like state now, and if it is nonviolent, then that is a blessing.
I hear Reagan who was at his core a real nice man was also docile while going through this process for the most part.
She considers this a little blessing I think.
True, but, I’m strangely comforted when people are interested in the minute details of the private lives of (former) US Supreme Court justices instead of Brittany, K-Fed, Kanye and the rest.
Tiger Beat with Steven Hawking on the cover?
And, I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Had Reagan been in this situation, there would have been stories and blow by blow pictures for money all over the place.
So, you can’t be a high profile public person using a public facility and expect your privacy or frankly your dignity. Shameful, but true I guess.
I really hate the media.
On a side note, President Bush looks so young in that picture. If I'm reading the properties correctly, it's from 2 years ago.
Take him home!
Well, it is; but think it would have remained even sweeter had they honored the privacy of all involved. . .
Why is this a news story? This is a personal family matter and the reporter who broke this has got to be scum.
EXACTLY RIGHT...
I agree. When are the CBS news writers going on strike? It couldn’t be soon enough for me.
Think I could try that on my wife. “Get, I forgot I was married. Who did you say you are?”
Two comments.
1. Pointless invasion of privacy.
2. 50 first dates.
The family may be too small to handle it.
Plus madam Justice is too old herself to handle it I am sure.
Could also be a money issue.
I mean, if you want to start some charity to support his home care, go for it.
I recall reading, in a article about schizophrenia, that despite our advances we still know so little about how the brain operates that doctors aren't even certain why aspirin has the effect it does. Maybe in 100 years there will be cures for both alzheimer's and schizophrenia, but today both are a mystery.
I agree—this is a strange story, not “strangely sweet”. This is one step away from talking about eating habits and adult diapers. What is the point of this? To embarrass her? To educate on Alzheimer’s behavior? This is a private family matter, especially now that she is no longer a public figure.
This is just sad. What a terrible disease.
Will there be a follow up story when “Kay’s” husband reads this and finds out what the hospital has been allowing to go on?
I sure hope not.
Money a issue? please I would have taken him home.
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