In a candid revelation, bestselling author Cathi Hanauer has opened up about her decision to end her 30-year marriage, seeking greater personal freedom, while disclosing that her ex-husband continues to provide her with financial support.
The End of a Long Union
Cathi Hanauer, 63, and her husband Daniel Jones, also 63, separated after three decades of marriage. The couple, who wed in 1992, share two children together. Hanauer explained that they gradually grew apart, a process that intensified after their children left home for college.
She admitted to having reservations about monogamy before their wedding, but was persuaded by Jones to proceed with traditional vows. The dynamic between them shifted further when their professional collaboration, which included co-creating the popular Modern Love column for The New York Times, came to an end.
An Amicable and Unconventional Split
After attempts at relationship counseling proved unsuccessful, the pair decided to part ways. Hanauer described a peaceful separation, marked by a hug, mutual apologies, and a sense of freeing each other. She detailed this in a New York Times opinion piece titled "We Had a Long, Mostly Good Marriage. It's OK That it Ended."
She insists the marriage did not fail but reached a natural and healthy conclusion after decades of happiness. Notably, she stated there was no infidelity or major arguing leading to the split, though their children were initially upset.
Life After Separation and Ongoing Support
Since the separation, Hanauer has embraced single life, enjoying dates with various men including a retired police officer, an engineer, a doctor, and a TV producer. Jones has also moved on with a new girlfriend, whom Hanauer says she gets along with well.
Despite their split, the couple has not formally divorced. They reached a private agreement without lawyers that Hanauer says feels fair to both. As part of this arrangement, Daniel Jones continues to pay for Cathi Hanauer's health insurance and provides her with a monthly stipend.
Hanauer justifies this ongoing financial support by highlighting that her writing and their joint work on the Modern Love column significantly contributed to Jones's career success as well. The column, a major hit for the newspaper, features deeply personal reader stories about love, marriage, and divorce.
