John and Teresa Kerry

Birthdates: John Forbes Kerry, December 11, 1943, Aurora, Colorado.

Maria Teresa Thierstein Simões-Ferreira Heinz Kerry, October 5, 1938, Mozambique.

How They Met: They had briefly met in 1990 at an Earth Day Rally. In 1992, in Rio de Janeiro, John and Teresa met again at a United Nations sponsored Earth Summit. A few months later they renewed their acquaintance at a Washington dinner party, and took a walk together to the Mall and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Their courtship began in late 1993. They announced their engagement in November, 1994.

Wedding Date: May 26, 1995, Nantucket, Massachusetts. Witnesses included her three sons and his two daughters. They were married and exchanged gold rings underneath a canopy at an evening ceremony. Teresa wore a peace gown designed by Oscar de la Renta. Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary fame) performed at their wedding.

Ages at Marriage: Teresa, 56.
John, 51.

Previous Marriages: John, to Julia Stimson Thorne (b. 1945) on May 23, 1970; separated in 1982; divorced July 25, 1988; annulled by the Roman Catholic Church in 1997. When they met, Julia was John's best friend's sister. She is now married to architect Richard Charlesworth and lives in Bozeman, Montana.

Teresa, to college sweetheart, Senator Henry John Heinz III in 1966. Their marriage lasted until his death in an airplane accident on April 4, 1991.

Occupations: John, Navy, 1966-1970; Naval Reserves, 1972-1978; Assistant District Attorney, Middlesex County, 1977-1979; Attorney, 1979-1982; Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor, 1982-84; U.S. senator, 1984-present.

Teresa, United Nations translator as Teresa is fluent in five languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, and her native Portuguese; philanthropist.

Children: John Kerry and Julia Thorne: Alexandra Kerry - birthdate, Sept. 5, 1973 and Vanessa Kerry - birthdate, Dec. 31, 1976.

Teresa and H. John Heinz: John Heinz Jr. born in 1967, André Heinz born in 1970, Christopher Heinz born in 1973; and one miscarriage.

Grandchildren: John Heinz Jr. has one daughter.

Residence: Boston (Beacon Hill), Massachusetts.

Other homes: Ketchum, Idaho; Nantucket, Massachusetts; Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania; Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

Miscellaneous: They try to be together several nights a week, and John and Teresa attempt to have one weekend every month just for the two of them.

They have a prenuptial agreement.

Teresa became an American citizen at the age of 32. If John is elected President of the United States, Teresa would be the second foreign born first lady.

Quotes About Their Marriage: Teresa: On 25 years of marriage to John Heinz, "It's a beautiful time of a marriage. The things that used to rattle you and make you upset all of a sudden become endearing. And you never knew it could happen."

Teresa: On their many homes, "The homes belong to the Heinz family, and they don't belong to me alone, either, now that my late husband is dead. [They do] not belong to John Kerry. They belong to my sons."

John: On Teresa's first husband, Jack Heinz, “I’ve never felt threatened by it. It would be cruel and insensitive if she didn’t celebrate his memory. I’ve told her sons, ‘I’m not there to replace anybody. I’m there to be whoever I am.’”