Richard Branson is mourning the loss of his wife, Joan Templeman, after a remarkable fifty-year partnership. The news came just days after both were hospitalized, recovering from separate injuries, a poignant twist of fate that brought them together in their final moments.
Their story took an unexpected turn when Branson injured his shoulder during a fall in India, and Templeman was simultaneously recovering from a back injury – both in the same English hospital. He described the serendipity of ending up in a room down the hall from her, a moment filled with the playful excitement of reunited teenagers.
Recently, they shared a lunch where Templeman appeared to be regaining her strength, her spirit undimmed. Branson recalls being captivated once more by her radiant smile, the very smile that first stole his heart half a century ago.
That smile, he wrote, was followed by a swift and peaceful passing, with Branson at her side. The comfort of being together in those final moments is a solace to their family, a testament to a love that endured.
Branson described Joan as his best friend, his rock, and his guiding light – the center of his world. He expressed overwhelming gratitude for the extraordinary life they shared, a life brimming with both joy and sorrow.
Their recent celebration of Joan’s 80th birthday at the family’s Moroccan retreat, Kasbah Tamadot, remains a cherished memory. She lived fully, always prioritizing others and uplifting those around her, a beacon of positivity until the very end.
The couple’s journey wasn’t without heartbreak, having tragically lost their daughter, Clare Sarah, in infancy in 1979. Despite this profound loss, their bond remained unbreakable, forged through decades of shared experiences.
Branson reflected on the simple, yet profound, foundation of their relationship: laughter and luck. He acknowledged that life would never be the same, but they were blessed with fifty years of memories, a love that shaped their family in immeasurable ways.
Joan, he wrote, was the shining star around which their family’s universe revolved. Though her physical presence is gone, her light continues to shine, guiding them forward and forever held within their hearts.
Prior to his enduring marriage with Joan, Branson was married to Kristen Tomassi, a union that lasted from 1972 to 1979. That marriage ended in divorce, and they did not have any children together.
