When I first heard that Howard Stern had separated from his wife, Alison, I called my mother, a fan.

"You're joking," she exclaimed. I could see her wide eyes through the phone. "No," she repeated. "No, that can't be true!" Later, "Well, what took her so long?"

Welcome to the latest intersection between the personal life of the personality and the listening life of America.

This time, though, Howard's off-air actions may force some of his fans to make a moral decision of their own.

I've been out as a Howard Stern fan for six years, ever since his program was syndicated to my hometown.

Somehow, knowing that a devoted father and doting husband lay behind his saucy veneer helped to give his commentary legitimacy. I didn't feel guilty when I laughed at his celebration of primitive masculinity, his politically incorrect comments, his berating of his staff and, perhaps most of all, the exhibitionism of his personal life.

His poor wife Alison stood by him for 25 years, gave him three beautiful daughters and sacrificed her career and her personal life. Howard gave her wealth, material comfort and a love poem in the form of a hit movie.

When women came to his studio just so they could experience the famous Stern leer, I accepted Stern's performance. I laughed at his inveterate truth telling.