Richie Sambora’s mother Joan has passed away just four days before her 90th birthday as the former Bon Jovi rocker mourns the heartbreaking loss.
The 66-year-old guitarist’s mother died at her home in New Jersey on Sunday, January 11 – where he had also resided to help take care of her over the past few years.
Her death was confirmed by People on Tuesday, with a source telling the outlet that Sambora and his daughter Ava, 28, have been left ‘heartbroken.’
The musician was the only son of Joan and his father Adam – who passed away in 2007 following a battle with lung cancer.
Joan had been born in 1936 and was seen at events alongside her son over the past decades in support of his music career.
Back in 2024, it was revealed that Sambora had flown back to his home state in order to be by his mother’s side after she suffered a couple falls.
Richie Sambora’s mother Joan has passed away just four days before her 90th birthday as the former Bon Jovi rocker mourns the heartbreaking loss; seen in 2024 in Kentucky
Her death was confirmed by People on Tuesday, with a source telling the outlet that Sambora, 66, and his daughter Ava, 28, have been left ‘heartbroken’
That year, a fall had left her with injuries including a broken hip – and a separate insider had told People that his mother was recuperating in rehab.
Sambora also ‘went through the whole house and renovated it. He bought her smaller furniture to make it easier for her.’
The music artist additionally provided Joan with 24/7 care due to her not wanting to spend time in the hospital.
‘He’s an only child and a devoted son. They’re first-generation immigrants, so family is very important to him,’ the source said.
Joan had occasionally appeared in social media pictures with her son and also made an appearance at glitzy red carpet events.
Back in 2012, she was seen flashing a proud smile as she stood next to Sambora as well as his daughter Ava and actress Denise Richards at the 12th Annual Golden Heart Awards in Beverly Hills.
The musician was the lead guitarist of the rock band Bon Jovi from 1983 until his exit years later in 2013.
And during an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV in 2020, Sambora got candid about the reasoning behind his departure – which he previously explained had been due to ‘personal reasons.’
Back in 2024, it was revealed that Sambora had flown back to his home state in order to be by his mother’s side after she suffered a couple falls; the pair seen above in 2009 in New Jersey
‘He’s an only child and a devoted son. They’re first-generation immigrants, so family is very important to him,’ the source said; Sambora seen in 2023 in L.A.
Joan had occasionally appeared in social media pictures with her son and also made an appearance at glitzy red carpet events; Sambora seen with his mother, daughter Ava (right) and Denise Richards (left) in 2012 in Beverly Hills
‘Obviously it hurts and you know, breaking up is hard to do,’ the guitarist said in regards to leaving the band – which was founded by Jon Bon Jovi in 1983.
The lead singer and Sambora had been two of the original members including Alec John Such, David Bryan and Tico Torres.
‘I was in a situation and it was not easy to make that decision to leave the band and the fans,’ Sambora further explained to DailyMailTV as he needed to take care of his daughter Ava.
He shares Ava with ex-wife Heather Locklear, whom he was married to from 1994 until their divorce was in 2007.
‘I was in a dire situation with my family and I had to make a tough decision and I did and I’m sure people weren’t happy about it.’
The interview came not long after singer Bon Jovi had made comments about Sambora’s exit.
‘There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t wish that Richie had his life together and was still in the band,’ the singer had said.
‘In a weird way, it’s because of his inability to get it together anymore that we went on and wrote [the album] This House Is Not For Sale.’
‘Obviously it hurts and you know, breaking up is hard to do,’ the guitarist said in regards to leaving the band – which was founded by Jon Bon Jovi in 1983; seen above far right with the band in 1984
‘I was in a dire situation with my family and I had to make a tough decision and I did and I’m sure people weren’t happy about it,’ Sambora said; seen above with daughter Ava
Sambora also gave an update about his relationship with Bon Jovi at the time.
‘We’ve had our ups and downs throughout the years as any married couple have. Jon and I spent more time together than we spent with our families because him and I wrote the songs.’
He then reflected on his daughter graduating from LSU and gushed that ‘she and I have just been really fantastic and we just have a great relationship.’
But when it comes to reuniting with the rock band, Sambora expressed, ‘It would have to be a special situation for me to go back, but I’m certainly not counting it out. I have no malice toward that band.’
Despite his exit over 10 years earlier, the guitarist made an appearance in the 2024 Hulu docuseries titled Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story.
During a behind-the-scenes clip shared to his Instagram page, he discussed his exit from the rock band.
But when it comes to reuniting with the rock band, Sambora expressed, ‘It would have to be a special situation for me to go back, but I’m certainly not counting it out. I have no malice toward that band’; seen in February 2025 in San Pedro
‘I don’t regret leaving the situation, but I regret how I did it,’ Sambora admitted.
‘So, I would like to apologize fully right now to the fans, especially also to the guys because my feet and my spirit were just not letting me walk out the door.’
Bon Jovi is reuniting later this year for the Forever Tour which is set to kick off in July and will come to an end in September.
Sambora was initially reported to be joining the band members on stage – but it was later revealed that the musician will not be taking part in the tour, much to the disappointment of fans.
