Dorothea Hurley, the wife of the iconic Jon Bon Jovi, became the rock ‘n’ roller’s high school sweetheart three weeks after her boyfriend left to join the navy. Their relationship began when Jovi tried cheating on a test by looking over at her work.

Dorothea Hurley has been described as “independent-minded” since her teen years, a trait her husband always admired. Although she isn’t in the music scene like Jovi, Hurley has her own talents. She has dedicated her life to mastering martial arts and pursuing entrepreneurship and philanthropy.

The couple hails from the same city, and while their relationship began in their teens, Hurley and Jovi haven’t stopped growing as individuals and a couple. She married the star in the late 1980s, and over the following years, Hurley also became a doting mother of four.

Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Hurley are photographed on October 2, 1988, at an undisclosed location | Source: Getty Images

Dorothea Was the Cool Girl in Class

Hurley drew her first breath in New Jersey on September 29, 1962, born to Donald and Dorothy. Her name has sentimental origins, as it was a combination of her mother’s name and a close family friend’s who had unfortunately passed from cancer before she was born.

She attended Sayreville War Memorial School in Parlin and was a junior karate champion. Hurley continued her journey in the sport and ascended to the fourth-degree black belt status. She now runs her own dojo as a karate instructor; however, that’s not the only career path she passionately pursues.

Hurley co-runs a chain of community restaurants called the JBJ Soul Kitchen. The JBJ Kitchen is an initiative started by her family’s non-profit organization, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, which encourages the public to buy pre-made meals for the homeless and needy.

Dorothea Hurley is pictured speaking on stage at the Food Bank for New York City’s Can Do awards dinner gala on April 9, 2014, in New York City | Source: Getty Images

The foundation’s website also stated that the community restaurants provided a place for in-need families and individuals to meet each other and bond over “farm-to-table” meals in a warm and welcoming setting. At the time of publication, the JBJ Soul Kitchen had served over 155,000 meals.

In high school, Hurley was in the same class as Jovi, and the artist remembered her as the “cool girl” who was always late to class. She carried herself with an air of rebellion, which Jovi felt drawn to when he first noticed her. Jovi was instantly smitten with Hurley but soon learned she was already in a relationship with one of his friends.

After the said friend left for the Navy, Jovi waited three weeks before pursuing Hurley. He likened his method to the 5-second rule when a “piece of toast” fell to the floor. The “It’s My Life” artist began their interactions by asking Hurley to help him with some test questions.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award recipient Dorothea Hurley poses at The Jefferson Awards Foundation’s 2017 DC National Ceremony at Capital Hilton on June 22, 2017, in Washington, DC | Source: Getty Images

However, that wasn’t before he tried cheating on his test by looking at Hurley’s answers. Still, their chemistry sparked and developed from then onwards. As smitten as Jovi was, Hurley also couldn’t resist Jovi’s charms.

Dorothea and Jon Were Separated for a While

It was 1980 when Hurley and Jovi first met, marking the beginning of their decades-long union. Hurley’s husband made his way up as an artist, and by 1984, he finally had the opportunity to go on tour. Jovi wanted Hurley to tag along; however, she was only somewhat keen on the prospect.

As a young and “independent-minded” woman, Hurley was determined to carve her own path. And while she supported Jovi’s career choice, following the musician around and shelving her dreams was not in the cards for the then-22-year-old.

Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Hurley are photographed as they arrive at the 2010 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on May 1, 2010, in Washington, DC | Source: Getty Images

Moreover, apart from the tight financial situation that would have made it impossible for Hurley to join, she also didn’t see herself waiting for Jovi to return to her, whenever that would have been. Hence, they decided to end their relationship after four years, and Jovi left to tour with his band.

During his time away, Jovi missed Hurley dearly, and as the tour neared its end, the rock ‘n’ roll star was eager to return home and rekindle his relationship with her. After landing in their hometown, Jovi immediately visited Hurley’s home and waited until they were alone to plead his way back into her heart.

Hurley couldn’t help but give in, and soon, the couple’s romance resumed. While their peers were settling down into marriage and having children, Hurley and Jovi were in no rush as the couple shared a preference for non-conformity to societal standards.

Dorothea Hurley is photographed as she speaks onstage at the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation’s 10 year anniversary at the Garage on October 6, 2016, in New York City | Source: Getty Images

The pair supported each other as they individually focused on establishing their careers. Still, their relationship wasn’t without its bumps. As Jovi and his band navigated their way through stardom, he and his Bon Jovi mates, Tico Torres and Alec John Such, struggled with balancing their personal lives and commitment to music.

During the band’s first tour, Hurley’s husband was romantically involved with Diane Lane, a former relationship that was considered “high-profile.” However, it only lasted for almost a year. And although this relationship didn’t count as infidelity, Jovi still insinuated that he had been unfaithful to Hurley after they reunited.

Jon Unexpectedly Asked Dorothea to Marry Him

Hurley stayed at the St. James Club hotel with her husband in 1989, as Jovi had been performing his number one single from the album “New Jersey” at the Forum in Los Angeles for three nights. On one of the mornings, he suggested to Hurley that they should get married.

Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Hurley are photographed as they arrive at the “Moonstruck” Premiere on December 1, 1987, at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Hurley initially thought Jovi was out of his mind, but the Bon Jovi frontman insisted, saying there was no “better” moment to secure their union. Hurley eventually agreed, and they traveled to Las Vegas to tie the knot. By 1993, the couple had begun their parenthood journey.

Dorothea and Jon’s Daughter Was Arrested

Hurley and Jovi welcomed their first child, Stephanie Rose Bongiovi, on May 31, 1993. Stephanie Rose currently works as a camera operator in television. The 29-year-old faced drug charges after allegedly overdosing on heroin in 2012 as a college student.

Despite the charges, which were eventually dropped, Hurley and Jovi supported their daughter as fans also sent well wishes. Stephanie Rose’s younger brothers are Jesse, born two years after his older sister on February 19, and Jacob, born on May 7, 2002. The couple’s last child is Romeo, born on March 29, 2004.

Stephanie Rose Bongiovi, Jon Bon Jovi, Romeo Bongiovi, Dorothea Hurley, and Jacob Bongiovi pose for a photo at the Winter Whites Gala In Aid Of Centrepoint on November 26, 2013, in London | Source: Getty Images

The Secret of a Long-Term Relationship with a Rock Star

While Jovi admitted that he enjoyed watching Hurley age gracefully, mutual respect kept their bond strong. During a 2020 interview, Jovi added that he and Hurley “really liked each other” and always wanted to hang out.

But even so, they were neither possessive of each other nor scared for their union, even as other celebrity relationships with rock stars crumbled. Jovi also hasn’t been shy about his unidentified infidelities, especially during the height of Bon Jovi’s success.

Because of his career, the star missed many important moments in his kids’ lives, such as birthdays and school plays. Still, his wife wasn’t fussy about the occasional lack of his presence as she understood the life ahead when she married the rockstar.