Justice O'Connor's Husband Finds New Love

(CBS/AP)  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.

[rhs648]

Seventeen years with Alzheimer''s disease is a long time. Her husband probably doesn''t recognize people. Justice O''day should be admired because of her desire to want happiness and peace for her husband. This is not an example of two healthy people and adultery. Although I didn''t agree with many of Justice O''day''s views, I have to admire her.

[rhs648]

They could have saved a few million on his funeral if they buried him properly - - there would have been need for only 2 pallbearers, since there are only 2 handles on a galvanized garbage can.

Posted by FlangeSqueal

It is one thing to disagree with the political views of others. It is another thing to hate someone so much that a person feels that someone else should be buried in a garbage can. This is one sick dude. Interestingly, many people loved President Reagan.

[kansas1946]

My heart goes out to Justice O''Connor. It is terrible to lose a loved one, but when they are still here, but who they were is gone, it has got to be the worst torture. I know it is a relief to her that her husband is finding some happiness in the prison of his disease. She is a grand lady.

[toolmangler-2009]

he isn''''t getting the attention that he craves men simply go and find it where ever they can?
Posted by kennedy19106 at 01:43 PM : Nov 13, 2007


That is a ''human'' thing, not a gender issue.

[kennedy19106]

I was simply reflecting on the sad irony of it all. I realize that Mr. O''Connor has no idea what day it is or whether he even has a wife. I just think that after the ultimate sacrifice that this lady made for the love of her life, because of this diease she has lost her husband and her job (which by all accounts she also loved a great deal).

[kennedy19106]

In response to barbaraf4:

I disagree with you. If Justice O''Connor was as wealthy as you think that she is then she "would" have her husband at home with 24-hour assistance. As Mrs. Reagan did with her husband. I would think that it would cost much more to have a loved one inflicted with the disease to receive the constant care that they would need if they remain in their own home.

[kennedy19106]

I think that this is so sad. Just to think the main reason that Justice O''Connor gave up her seat on the Court was to take care of her husband. Then to realize after the fact that he was too far gone and that she could not provide the care that he needed, she made the heart wrenching decision to provide 24-hour care for him in an assisted living facility. Now she spends her time as a director on boards and foundations when she would prefer to be back on the Court. Though typical of a man....under these circumstances he goes out and gets a new girlfriend. I realize that he is not "really" in his right mind, but isn''t it ironic that even a man in his right mind would do just the same, if he isn''t getting the attention that he craves men simply go and find it where ever they can?

[j_flood]

This is a plain and simple story, devoid of politics. Amazing how you people seem to want to snipe at Justice O''Connor and Ronald Reagan. Long before Justice O''Connor took up her position on the court she was a wealthy woman - why say the taxpayers have indirectly paid for a highfalootin living facility barbaraf4? Get a life people...

[sandy19731]

This same phenomena was illustrated in the movie, "Without Her". It is fairly common among Alzheimer''s victims. The former supreme court justice is showing true class.

[barbaraf4]

I am very happy that Justice O''Connor has the resources (thanks to the taxpayers) to keep her husband in an upscale extended living facility. Most of the rest of us have to deal with this privately in our own homes.