Apparently, there was an immediate connection between the two, but a friend introduced the Springsteen to actress Julianne Phillips, who quickly stole Springsteen’s heart. Springsteen and Phillips was married on May 13, 1985. It ended up being Springsteen’s demanding tour schedule for the Tunnel of Love Express Tour that caused a rift between the couple. Scialfa had postponed working on a solo album to rejoin the tour and, this time, sparks really did fly.
According to Scialfa’s high school teacher in an interview with People, it came as no surprise to everyone at home that the Jersey girl ended up with “The Boss.”
“Patti’s been in love with Bruce for as long as I can remember,” says Curtis K. Smith, her art teacher at Asbury Park High. “We’d always heard this and that about Patti and Bruce from [her brother] Michael. It wasn’t a big surprise around here when it finally came into the open.”
Springsteen ended his relationship with Philips and shortly after moved in with Scialfa. The couple moved to Los Angeles together and immediately started growing their family. They welcomed son Evan James in 1990 and then married in a private ceremony at their home the following year. Soon after, they welcomed two more children together, Jessica and Samuel.