Theodore Granstedt

60, Santa Clara County

When Theodore Granstedt IV was in his 20s, he was in a motorcycle accident so severe that it almost took his life.

Doctors told his family there was no longer any detectable brain activity, and asked if they could start harvesting organs. Then, miraculously, his brain activity started up again. Granstedt recovered.

He went on to stop abusing drugs and alcohol — something he struggled with in his adolescence — and would stay sober for more than 30 years. He became a sponsor through Alcoholics Anonymous, helping hundreds of other recovering addicts.

Ed Granstedt, 59, said that story that best encapsulates his brother, known as Teddy, who died from COVID-19 in San Jose on March 23. He was 60.

“Even though he was rough around the edges,” Granstedt said, “there was a lot of heart, compassion and caring to help those like him deal with their demons.”

Theodore Granstedt was a Northern California native who continued to love long motorcycle rides across the country. He was a die-hard San Francisco 49ers fan.

A husband to Brenda Shepard, a brother, an uncle and a loyal friend; his loved ones describe him as generous, fearless and bold.

Granstedt started feeling ill three weeks before his death, his brother said.

When he eventually did make it to O’Connor Hospital, he was only there for a night before he died.

Ed got a text from his brother at 12:19 a.m. on March 23, when Theodore had only hours to live. It simply said, “Thank you.”