Hickenlooper, Thorpe Announce Separation
DENVER (CBS4) - Gov. John Hickenlooper and his wife Helen Thorpe have announced they are separating after 10 years of marriage.
They call the decision "mutual and amicable: and that they remain close friends ... and a functioning family." That starts with a family vacation this week with their son Teddy.
The couple says the decision is unrelated to the difficult events in Colorado this summer, including the shooting in Aurora and two disastrous wildfires on the Front Range. The couple says they sought counseling. Both attended services for the victims of the theater shooting last week.
Hickenlooper is moving into the Governor's Mansion as part of the agreement and Thorpe and Teddy will remain at their private family home.
Hickenlooper and Thorpe said "that neither has had an affair."
Thorpe has worked as a freelance journalist who has had stories published in The New York Times Magazine, New York Magazine and George.
The couple said they would not be making any further statements about the matter. Their complete joint statement lies below:
After years of marriage that have added tremendous love and depth to both of our lives, we have decided to separate. This decision is mutual and amicable. We continue to have the utmost respect for each other, and we remain close friends. We intend to continue functioning as a family that spends a great deal of time together. In fact, we will embark on our annual family vacation together this week, share meals often, and plan to spend holidays together. You can continue to expect to see both of us out in the community - sometimes together, sometimes solo. Please feel free to include both of us in social gatherings as we will not find it awkward.
Our chief concern right now is the well-being of our son, so we ask everyone to respect our privacy as we make this transition. While public office made this announcement necessary, it will be the only statement we make on this private matter. We want to thank our friends, family, and community for all of the support you have shown us as a couple and as individuals, and for the support we know you will provide as we move forward.
