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Dana York Age, Biography, Children, Other Facts About Tom Pettys Wife

Dana York is best known to the media as the widow of late rock and roll legend, Tom Petty. She was thrust into the spotlight after the musician’s tragic death on October 2, 2017. According to reports, she was the one who initiated the 911 call after Petty suffered a heart attack which ultimately led to his death, which was later discovered by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Department to be due to mixed drug toxicity. Here are the facts you need to know about the woman Petty spent his final years with.

Dana York Bio ( Age)

Dana York Epperson was born in 1964 in Flint, Michigan and raised in Genessee County, Michigan. His mother lives in Fenton, Michigan. Almost everything that’s known about Dana York dates back to her marriage to superstar rocker, Tom Petty, and that’s because unlike her late husband, Dana York was just a normal person living in Michigan like every other average American.

Prior to her relationship with Petty, DanaYork worked in education. She attended Flushing High School in Michigan, graduating in 1982. Her career in education includes a period when she was principal of University High School in Ferndale, Michigan. However, early in her relationship with Tom Petty, Dana had to step down from her education job and began working with Petty’s band, helping them plan their tours.

Before Petty came on the scene, York was married to someone else. When she first met Petty in 1991 at a concert in Texas, she was still married to her first husband. Additionally, Petty was still married to his first wife, Jane Benyo.

However, Petty’s relationship with his wife began to turn sour and the two eventually became addicted to drugs which further strained their relationship and culminated in their divorce which was finalized on September 9, 1996, ending to a marriage that lasted more than two decades. Coincidentally, York also had issues with her first husband and the two would also divorce in the same year in 1996.

York reconnected with Petty the same year and despite experiencing heartbreak from their previous relationships, they immediately fell in love and began a romantic relationship. York and Petty would last up to 6 years before getting married on June 3, 2001 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. The wedding was private with close family and friends. A post-wedding celebration was held at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Vegas.

If it hadn’t been for Petty’s marriage to York, he probably would have died earlier than he did due to drug addiction. During the first few years they were together, York was unaware of Petty’s substance abuse issues as he hid it from her. However, she got to know and eventually helped the musician get the help he needed.

Tom Petty would openly credit his wife Dana with saving him from drug addiction.

Their children

Dana York and Tom Petty never really had babies together, but each of the lovers had children before they started their relationship. Dana York has a son named Dylan from her previous marriage. When Petty was alive, Dylan whom he adopted was sometimes seen with him as well as with his mother Dana.

Upon her marriage to Petty, Dana York became the stepmother to Petty’s children from her previous marriage. The children are girls – Adria and AnnaKim Violette. Both children inherited artistic genes from their father. Adria is doing well as a film and music video director. She directed music videos for big stars like Coldplay and Beyonce. Annakim, on the other hand, is doing well as a fashion designer as well as an artist.

Other Facts About Tom Petty’s Wife

• Dana York’s own father also struggled with drug addiction and her experience with him helped pull Petty out of drug addiction.

• York and Petty have been married twice. Their first wedding which took place in Vegas, according to Petty’s word to PEOPLE, was just to settle the legal side of things. The couple married again a few weeks after the premiere in a larger ceremony held at their Malibu home. Pop star Little Richard officiated the ceremony.

• While waiting for the ambulance to arrive after Petty’s death, York performed CPR to revive her husband.

• Dana helped Petty restore his relationship with his daughters.

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Abbie Anker

Update: 2024-05-19