Vassos’ late husband John died from pancreatic cancer in 2021 after the pair had been married for 32 years
Joan Vassos is turning a bittersweet anniversary into a celebratory moment.
On Sunday, Jan. 19, the Golden Bachelorette star, 62, celebrated the fourth anniversary of her late husband John’s death by seeing Left on Tenth on Broadway with her new fiancé, Chock Chapple, by her side. She reflected on the moment in a post shared on Instagram.
“What a night for @chockchapple and I at our first Broadway show as a couple!” she began in the post’s caption. “@leftontenth was phenomenal and we got to go backstage after to meet the stars: Julianna Margulies, Peter Gallagher, Peter Francis James, and Kate MacCluggage!”
The carousel of images she posted included shots of Vassos and Chapple smiling alongside the Left on Tenth cast. The reality star also admitted that the Broadway play “really hit home.”
“Today is the 4th anniversary of John’s passing and these talented actors captured the feelings I had the days and years after that terrible day,” she continued in the caption. “It was a beautiful story about allowing yourself to fall in love again after loss in your golden years.”
“There is always a light in the end and theirs were bright as we all cheered for them as they took their bows! Thank you to the cast and team at ‘Left On Tenth’ for a night we’ll never forget!” she concluded.
Before Vassos and Chapple found love on the inaugural season of The Golden Bachelorette, she was married to her late husband John for 32 years. He died in 2021 from pancreatic cancer.
In November 2024, Vassos opened up about how she faced unresolved feelings of grief while simultaneously pursuing love on the dating show.
“I really struggled with that in the middle of the season,” she told PEOPLE. “The Bachelor gives you access to psychiatrists that are actually at the mansion with you on the show, and so I did that. I actually had an appointment with them and we talked about what it would be, why it was so hard for me to move on in this journey and that I felt like I was still in love with John and I never would not be in love with him. And they’re like, ‘Well, that’s fine.’”
“They said, ‘Picture it like you have a balloon in each hand. One is John and one is this other person that you have feelings for, and you don’t have to let go of this one to have this one also,’” she continued. “There’s room in your heart and in your memory for more than one person.'”
She added, “I just needed to hear that it was okay. I didn’t have to not love John anymore, and I didn’t know that.”
The Golden Bachelorette is now streaming on Hulu.
