The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 141

4 Sllll; 'Fall Guy' Star Is Single Again After Split From Hubby Chuck Woolery ira Kli? Feet Jo Ann Pflug tit 5 2 i 4i JO ANN PFLUG, one of Hollywood's favorite gadabouts and the co-star of TV's new hit series, "The Fall Guy," is divorcing her husband and taking the first tottering steps toward re-entering single life. Jo Ann and actor-singer Chuck Woolery agreed to disagree earlier this year after nine years of marriage. The parting has been amicable for several reasons. Both are born-again Christians, thanks to their mutual friend Pat Boone and his Church on the Way, and out of consideration for their daughter, Melissa, 6. Despite the fact that both Woolerys are employed and well off financially, the trauma of breaking apart is lessened only slightly for Jo Ann, an ebullient, upbeat, happy-face of a woman.

"Like most career women who find themselves single again, I've discovered how difficult it is to make the adjustment," she says. "Suddenly I find myself responsible for all the areas in my life, some of which I'd abandoned during my marriage to Chuck. Finances and social obligations were some of the things I left to him. "Even little things like household repairs I'd let Chuck assume. I shifted the responsibility of what most women think are male areas of their lives to my husband.

"Now I'm re-evaluating every aspect of my life, especially emotional and intellectual stimulation, a responsibility I'd allowed Chuck to take over and that I got mad about when he didn't." Jo Ann is not unaware of the fortunate circumstances in her life. She has her career. Many newly divorced women find themselves in the job market for the first time or returning to work after years in the home. Jo Ann pursued her career throughout her marriage. She's also buying the family home under a property agreement.

And, of course, she has custody of Melissa. "Chuck and I separated for six months two years ago," Jo Ann says, "so the shock of living alone hasn't been as great as it might have been, although I'm probably suffering more trauma than I realize. "I still have my home. It would have been a terrible upheaval if I'd had to leave it. Even so, Chuck and I both had to go through the hurt of dividing up the sentimental material things that meant so much to both of us.

"And we have to sell our 37-foot sailboat, the 'Pflugie There are some things you can afford to have when you're married that become too expensive when you're single. "Most of our antiques were too big for Chuck's new apartment at the marina, so I helped him pick out new furniture." Jo Ann says she hasn't thought about playing the dating game. She feels she'd be too self-conscious. Her natural zest for living has been a life-saver. She prepares dinner for groups of married friends at least once a week.

She keeps a horse at the home of a friend and goes riding to relieve the tensions. "My, first priority right now is to spend more time with Melissa," she says. "We go riding together and I'm trying to teach her how to play tennis. And I want to build my career, too. "There is no other man in my life.

A friend, who was recently divorced, said, 'Welcome to the walking wounded, Jo Ann." I hadn't thought about myself in that context until then. So now I'm limping around. "The thing for any newly divorced person to do is keep busy. I like my house full of people. I like parties.

I'm more socially oriented than Chuck and that was one of the big differences between us. "Lately, I've rediscovered laughter. In many ways I'm happier than I was before the divorce because I'm my own person, making decisions on my own. I'm not lonely because I have a good support group of friends. "I'm taking a financial seminar for women at UCLA, something my mother advised me to do 10 years ago when my father died.

It's been very informative and helpful. I've even formed my own corporation." Jo Ann says she doesn't believe the divorce affects her religious beliefs in any significant way. "In my mind, God is a forgiving father and he loves me despite the divorce," she says. "I hoped I'm not judged as a Christian on the basis of a divorce. "Chuck and I are both happier being divorced friends than married enemies." By Vernon Scott vipi 14 Jo Ann Pflug is divorcing her husband of nine years, former game show host Chuck Woole7.

"Chuck and I are both happier being divorced friends than married enemies," she says. 9.