Inside the Family of 'Golden Bachelorette' Joan Vassos: Discover Her Children, Grandchildren, and Beyond
Explore the family life of 'Golden Bachelorette' icon Joan Vassos, a devoted mother of four children from her marriage to the late John Vassos.
Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos Family Guide
Disney/James Clark
Contestants on Joan Vassos' upcoming Golden Bachelorette season should be aware that they will need to impress her four kids during hometown dates.
Joan Vassos, aged 61, was recently chosen as the first lead of the Golden Bachelor spinoff. She is the proud mother of Nicholas, Erica, Allison, and Luke, whom she had with her late husband, John Vassos. As a Maryland school administrator, Joan has received varying reactions from her kids regarding her decision to date on national television.
Joan shared with CNN on Wednesday, May 15 that her first and third children are really into the idea of her finding love on TV. They find it fun and think it's a cool experience for their mom. However, her daughter Erica and son Luke are a bit embarrassed by the idea. They feel cringey about seeing their mom kiss someone on TV and worry about what their friends will think. Despite this, all of her children ultimately want her to find love.
In the past, Joan appeared on the first season of The Golden Bachelor with lead Gerry Turner. However, she had to leave during week 3 to take care of her daughter Erica, who had just become a mother. Joan expressed on Instagram after her departure that she feels privileged to be a mom to four wonderful kids and a grandmother to two beautiful grandchildren, who affectionately call her Jojo. She acknowledged that as a mom, her priorities sometimes conflict with the timing of finding love.
Scroll down to learn more about Vassos’ family:
John
Joan lost her husband to pancreatic cancer in January 2021 after 32 years of marriage. Three years later, in an Instagram post, she fondly remembered how he always made her feel loved and secure.
She expressed that she believes her late husband would want to be remembered by keeping his memory alive. Joan encouraged others to continue sharing stories about him, assuring that they bring joy rather than sadness. In fact, she mentioned that most of the stories are actually quite humorous!
Nicholas
Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos Family Guide
Nicholas, born on March 8, 1990, showed his athletic skills in high school as a member of the varsity football and wrestling teams. He continued his education at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, where he excelled in football. Afterward, he earned 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
Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos Family Guide
Courtesy of Joan Vassos/Instagram
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
Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos Family Guide
Courtesy of Joan Vassos/Instagram
Allison graduated from Towson University and University of Maryland in 2018. She is an entrepreneur who owns a clothing store in Maryland called Itty Bitty Boutique, which focuses on outfits for children. Her Instagram bio mentions that she is also a mother to a son.
Luke
Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos Family Guide
Luke, born in 1996, shares a passion for sports with his brother. He excelled in lacrosse at Marquette University and made it to the Dean’s List while pursuing a degree in Corporate Communication. Currently, Luke works as a corporate account executive at Okta, a software development company. In addition, he volunteers with Milwaukee Wheelchair Lacrosse, where he helps wounded veterans learn and enjoy the sport.
