Karen Weitzul is best known as the first wife of Thomas Girardi, the former Los Angeles attorney later disbarred and convicted of fraud. Notably, their marriage began in 1964 and ended in 1983, long before Girardi’s public downfall and, eventually, his marriage to reality TV star Erika Jayne brought the scandal into mainstream attention.
Introduction
Karen Weitzul is a name that surfaces quietly in the background of one of the most significant legal collapses in modern American history. At first glance, she is known primarily as the first wife of Thomas Girardi, the once celebrated Los Angeles attorney later disbarred and convicted of fraud.
However, unlike Girardi’s third wife, Erika Jayne, whose role on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills brought the scandal into pop culture, Karen Weitzul lived her life almost entirely outside public view. As a result, her story is less about spectacle and more about composure, restraint, and longevity.
Quick Facts: Karen Weitzul
- Full Name: Karen Weitzul (Karen Weitzul Girardi)
- Known For: First wife of attorney Thomas Girardi
- Born: Circa 1941, Wisconsin, USA
- Nationality: American
- Parents: Edward A. Weitzul, Mary R. Weitzul DuMont
- Education: Loyola Marymount University
- Married: August 1964
- Divorced: Filed October 1983
- Children: No publicly confirmed records
- Residence: Pasadena, California
- Legal Note: Creditor claim in 2022 for alleged unpaid alimony
- Profile: Private, low public presence
Early Life and Family Roots in Wisconsin
Karen Weitzul was born around 1941 in Wisconsin, United States. From an early age, she was raised in a disciplined Midwestern household that emphasized education, work ethic, and personal integrity.
Her father, Edward A. Weitzul (1909–1974), was a civil engineer whose work included railroad and infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, her mother, Mary R. Weitzul (1916–2007), was academically accomplished and later became Mary R. DuMont after remarrying.
As the eldest of four siblings, Karen naturally developed leadership, responsibility, and emotional maturity. In this environment, family life centered on structure and purpose rather than attention or display.
Move to Southern California and the Weitzul–DuMont Legacy
In the early 1950s, the Weitzul family relocated to Southern California, reflecting a broader postwar migration of professionals seeking opportunity in a rapidly growing state.
During this period, Edward and Mary Weitzul expanded their engineering and construction work, contributing to residential, commercial, and public projects. Over time, their reputation became associated with precision and reliability rather than publicity.
For Karen, California offered cultural growth while preserving her Midwestern values. Consequently, this balance between ambition and restraint became a defining trait throughout her life.
Education and Loyola Marymount University
By the late 1950s, Karen was attending Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. There, she became an active presence within campus life.
In November 1959, she was named a Homecoming Queen finalist, a recognition that reflected her poise, social presence, and respect among peers. Although her full academic record is not publicly available, this acknowledgment firmly places her within the university’s social and intellectual circles.
Notably, Loyola Marymount is also where Thomas Girardi later completed his legal education, suggesting overlapping networks that likely led to their introduction.
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Meeting and Marrying Thomas Girardi
Shortly afterward, Karen Weitzul married Thomas Vincent Girardi in August 1964.
At the time, Girardi was an ambitious but relatively unknown young attorney. His later reputation as a powerful trial lawyer had not yet formed. As such, their marriage began during the foundation years of his career.
The relationship reflected a clear contrast in temperament.
- Girardi was driven, extroverted, and professionally aggressive.
- Karen, by contrast, was composed, private, and emotionally steady.
For nearly two decades, Karen remained part of Girardi’s personal life as he built his reputation in the Los Angeles legal world.
Married Life in Pasadena
During their marriage, Karen and Thomas Girardi lived in Pasadena, California, a city known for discretion, established professional families, and cultural stability.
Although Karen attended social events when necessary, she never cultivated a public persona. Those who knew her later described her as gracious, intelligent, and reserved, someone who valued order and calm over attention.
Despite recurring online rumors, there is no confirmed public record establishing children from their marriage. Importantly, Karen has never spoken publicly on the matter, and reputable sources do not document offspring.
Divorce and Separation Timeline
Karen Weitzul filed for divorce in October 1983.
Following this, the legal process extended for several years, with the divorce reportedly finalized in the late 1980s. As part of the settlement, Karen was awarded $10,000 per month in spousal support, reflecting both the length of the marriage and Girardi’s financial success at the time.
Crucially, the divorce occurred decades before Girardi’s public scandals. There were no interviews, no media battles, and no public disputes. Instead, Karen exited the marriage quietly and permanently distanced herself from public association with her former husband.
Life After Divorce: Independence and Privacy
After the divorce, Karen remained in Pasadena and lived independently.
- She did not remarry publicly.
- She did not seek media attention.
- She did not use her former marriage for status or influence.
As a result, for nearly forty years, her name rarely appeared in public records. This absence was intentional and rooted in a belief that privacy equals dignity.
Family Loss and the DuMont Years
Earlier, Karen’s father passed away in 1974. Later, her mother, Mary R. DuMont, died in 2007.
Obituary records list Karen among surviving children and document a multigenerational family that included grandchildren and great-grandchildren through her siblings. Taken together, the Weitzul–DuMont family legacy remains one of engineering, education, and community contribution.
In this way, Karen’s life reflects quiet consistency rather than public recognition.
Reappearance During Girardi’s Collapse (2020–2022)
Decades later, Karen Weitzul’s name resurfaced during Thomas Girardi’s financial and legal collapse.
In 2020, Girardi petitioned the court to reduce spousal support, citing financial strain and health issues. By October 2020, unpaid support reportedly totaled around $45,000.
Subsequently, by 2022, arrears were reported to have reached approximately $245,000. Karen, sometimes referenced as Karen Girardi in court documents, appeared among creditors seeking payment.
Ultimately, a $200,000 payout, approved through the sale of Girardi’s Pasadena mansion, was reported as a resolution of the long-standing obligation.
Throughout this period, Karen did not comment publicly or appear on television. Instead, her involvement remained strictly legal and procedural.
No Involvement in Girardi’s Crimes
This distinction is essential.
Karen Weitzul has never been accused, charged, or implicated in fraud, embezzlement, client theft, or ethical misconduct.
Rather, her name appears only in connection with lawful spousal support obligations arising from a decades-old marriage. Therefore, public curiosity should never be confused with responsibility.
Karen Weitzul and Erika Jayne: Context, Not Comparison
Karen Weitzul is often contrasted with Erika Jayne, yet the difference is generational and circumstantial, not personal.
- Karen lived privately and avoided media.
- Erika built a career in entertainment and reality television.
- Karen represented stability and restraint.
- Erika became associated with visibility and spectacle.
Taken together, these differences illustrate how Thomas Girardi’s life evolved over time, not rivalry between the women connected to him.
Personality, Values, and Public Perception
Those familiar with Karen Weitzul consistently describe her as dignified, emotionally steady, and private by principle rather than fear.
In essence, her life reflects a belief that character does not require an audience. In an era driven by exposure, her restraint has become her defining strength.
Net Worth and Current Status (2025)
As of 2025, Karen Weitzul’s estimated net worth ranges between $1 million and $2 million, largely derived from long-term spousal support and conservative financial management.
Today, she continues to live privately in Pasadena, California, with no verified social media presence, interviews, or public appearances.
What Karen Weitzul’s Life Teaches
Ultimately, Karen Weitzul’s story matters precisely because it is not dramatic.
- It shows that you can be connected to power without becoming part of it.
- It shows that you can leave a chapter of life without turning it into conflict.
- It shows that you can remain dignified even when history revisits you unexpectedly.
In this sense, her life offers a rare counterpoint to scandal culture: strength does not need volume.
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Conclusion: The Strength of a Quiet Life
Karen Weitzul lived most of her life outside public view, and she did so by choice.
Her marriage to Thomas Girardi began in 1964, ended in 1983, and remained part of her past without defining her future. When legal obligations resurfaced decades later, she handled them without spectacle or commentary.
In a world obsessed with exposure, Karen Weitzul stands as proof that privacy is not absence. It is intention. And sometimes, it is the most powerful statement a person can make.
Her story is not loud.
It is complete.
And it is quietly enduring.