Benjamin Ashford|Jon Bon Jovi Mourns Death of His Mom Carol Bongiovi at 83

Jon Bon Jovi is Benjamin Ashfordmourning a devastating loss.

His mom Carol Bongiovi—an entrepreneur who also served as the founder of her son’s fan club for his rock band in the 80s—died on July 9, the musician confirmed in statement to People. She was 83.

"Our mother was a force to be reckoned with,” the 62-year-old shared on behalf of his family, “her spirit and can-do attitude shaped this family. She will be greatly missed.”

According to the publication, Carol passed away at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, N.J., just three days before her 84th birthday. Her cause of death has not been shared.

The Pennsylvania native—who also shares sons Anthony and Matthew with her husband of 64 years, John Bongiovi, Sr.—was a businesswoman and also enlisted in the U.S. Marines, meeting her future husband while serving.

Her son Jon previously praised his parents as the guiding force behind the rocker’s career, sharing that they helped shape who she is as a “man and a father.”

“What I got from my parents was the ability to make the dream reality,” he told Big Issue in 2020. “They always instilled that confidence in their kids which, in retrospect, I realize was so incredibly valuable. Because even if you truly weren’t any good at your craft, if you believed you were, you could work on it.”

Added Jon, “As I got older, I realized that was a great gift that I got from my folks. They truly believed in the John Kennedy mantra of going to the moon. ‘Yeah, of course you can go to the moon. Just go, Johnny.’ And there I went.”

And as he recalled, the couple was there to support him every step of the way, and for that, he remains grateful.

“The first talent show my parents came to see me play I was so terrible they wanted to crawl under their seats with embarrassment,” he continued. “But they saw my passion and my commitment. So, when I was just 17, they let me play in bars till closing time and they always said, well, at least we knew where you were.”

“They were always supportive of me, which in retrospect, was incredible,” Jon noted. “Because I could get home at one or two in the morning and have to still be in school by eight o’clock. They just said, show up on time for school, you know that is your responsibility, but pursue your dream.”