All this said, whether your decision was appropriate or not is water under the bridge. The real problem here is, you're absolutely correct, your son's reaction was poor, ugly, uncalled for. Communication is the issue I believe. This too may be colored by a jealousy issue in his relationship.

For several years my son and I were estranged (he was 17-23). In our case, he had some resentment for my choice to leave his step-father. Regardless, communication became extremely difficult. Any occasion we did get together was strained.

What changed this? Well, my getting sick seemed to knock him over backwards and he finally began to take interest. The big thing though was that I took interest in him. Fast forward and we can now have two way discussions and tolerate one another's presence.