Golden Bachelorette season one lead Joan Vassos is the proud mom of four children.
Vassos, 61, shared Nicholas, Erica, Allison and Luke, with her late husband, John Vassos. When it comes to her kids’ reactions to her dating on national television, it’s been a bit of a mixed bag for the Maryland school administrator.
“My first and third children are very into this. They think it’s really fun and [are] like, ‘What a cool experience for mom,’” she told CNN on Wednesday, May 15. “My daughter Erica and my son Luke are a little … cringey. Like, ‘Don’t kiss a guy on TV. This is gonna be really embarrassing. My friends are watching.’ But overall, all of them want me to find love.”
Joan ultimately did find love on her season, accepting a proposal from Chock Chapple during the November 2024 Golden Bachelorette season 1 finale.
Joan previously appeared on The Golden Bachelor’s debut season with lead Gerry Turner, but she left during week 3 to care for her daughter Erica, who had recently given birth. “It’s a privilege to be a mom to four amazing kids and a grandmother (they call me Jojo) to two beautiful grandchildren,” she wrote via Instagram following her departure. “But once a mom, always a mom and sometimes the timing doesn’t work out with finding love.”
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Scroll down to learn more about Vassos’ family:
John
Joan’s husband of 32 years died from pancreatic cancer in January 2021. Reflecting back on his death in an Instagram post three years later, Joan shared that her late husband always made her feel “safe and cherished.”
She added, “Honestly, I think that’s how he would want to be remembered…by not forgetting him. Please keep telling the stories, don’t worry, they don’t make me sad…let’s be honest, most of them are funny!”
Nicholas
Nicholas was born on March 8, 1990, and established himself as an athlete in high school on both the varsity football and wrestling teams. He went on to study at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business — where he also played football — and later graduated with a degree in business administration from the University of Maryland.
According to his LinkedIn, Nicholas is currently a senior manager of business systems at an insurance company.
Erica
Joan and her late husband welcomed their daughter Erica on May 2, 1991. She attended American University before going on to teach third grade in Bethesda, Maryland, according to her Linkedin. Erica met her husband, Brent Hiken, while out at a tiki bar, and the pair tied the knot in 2022.
“My favorite girl is getting married and I couldn’t be happier! I love you @ericavassos and @bhikes30 July 23rd is going to be WILD,” Joan captioned a photo of the pair smiling together.
Erica gave birth to her daughter, Hartley Grace Hiken, the following year.
Allison
Allison attended Towson University and University of Maryland, which she graduated from in 2018. She’s an entrepreneur, having opened up her own clothing store in Maryland called Itty Bitty Boutique, which specializes in ensembles for little ones.
According to her Instagram bio, she also has a son.
Luke
Born in 1996, Luke is an avid athlete much like his brother. He played lacrosse at Marquette University and landed on the Dean’s List while studying Corporate Communication. Luke is currently a corporate account executive at Okta, a software development company, and also volunteered with Milwaukee Wheelchair Lacrosse, which teaches the sport to wounded veterans.
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