Theadora Vasquez Gray

July 30, 1936 - January 13, 2021

With deep sadness and grateful hearts, we announce the passing of Theadora Vasquez Gray, known as Teddy by all who knew her.

Teddy Vasquez Gray, daughter of the Mission District and a San Franciscan through and through, lived her life with passion, determination and empathy. As the fifth of eight children, Teddy was born in a flat on Folsom Street to blue-collar, union-proud parents. She excelled at Hawthorne Elementary, Horace Mann Junior High, and Mission High schools where she played trombone, was president of the Junior Red Cross and Salutatorian for the Class of 1954. A true patriot, Teddy joined the United States Air Force where, as Airman First Class, she served under Gen. Curtis LeMay in the Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Neb. There, she coordinated communications between the commanders on the ground and the crews in the sky. Her service in the military also allowed this California girl to experience snow for the first time. Upon her honorable discharge, Teddy returned to San Francisco where she began her career in various administrative and bookkeeping roles, became active in Democratic politics with her sister Julia Vasquez and dear friends Shirley, Bob, and John Burton at the start of the Burtons’ eponymous political machine that championed liberal social programs and civil rights. It was at a party for the Sunset Democratic Club where Teddy met her husband of 53 years, Kenneth Gray.

Theirs was a true partnership. Teddy supported Kenneth’s legal career, working side by side in his law offices, managing staff and ensuring their success. In 1969, Teddy welcomed her only daughter, also named Teddy, and kept a happy, well-maintained home in Ingleside Terraces, where she hosted many local officials including thenMayor Dianne Feinstein. For all of her daughter’s educational years, Teddy was an active St. Emydius, Convent of the Sacred Heart and UC Berkeley parent.

For the last decade of Teddy’s career, she was a distinguished employee of the City and County of San Francisco where she worked at Child Support Services. For more than 10 years, Teddy connected parents and children with vital government services – transformative benefits that she knew made a difference in the lives of all she touched.

Since 1993, Teddy and Ken made their home in Millbrae where she enjoyed her large garden and many wonderful neighbors. A consummate entertainer, their welcoming home was a terrific party site. Holidays of all sorts, backyard barbecues and pool parties were all flawlessly conducted and many happy memories were made. Teddy and Kenneth also enjoyed their second home near Yosemite, many vacations throughout the United States, Europe, and to visit cousins in Mexico. In June 2019, Teddy and Kenneth took her final vacation -- an unforgettable cruise to Alaska with their daughter and grandchildren.

Teddy Vasquez Gray relished her life. She was immensely proud of her daughter’s accomplishments, most recently elected as Mayor of Piedmont -- something she told all of her nurses, doctors, home health aides and anyone who would listen. She loved her family, her adoring grandchildren, her home, her dogs and her friends. She was fiercely proud of her MexicanAmerican heritage. Sadly, her long battle with osteoporosis and congestive heart failure took its toll. She passed away at Kaiser South San Francisco, having been in declining health. She was 84.

She is survived by her husband Kenneth, her daughter Teddy Gray King (John Whitehurst), grandchildren Nicholas, Allison, and Danny, and many nieces and nephews. including the Schencks, Kiuttus, Pynes, Smiths, Tomlinsons, Dunkers, Diazes and Pecks. She is preceded in death by her grandmother, Mariana Fletes, her parents, Mercedes and Augustine Vasquez, and siblings Mariana, Basilia, Mercy, Julia, Augie, Manuel, and Felix. Special thanks to the outstanding caregivers with Senior Assist of the Peninsula.

Due to Covid, rosary and chapel service are restricted to immediate family. A livestream funeral will take place on Tuesday, January 26 at 10 AM.

The link to the service is: https://vimeo. com/501515957/ f739ef854b, which will also be posted on the Duggan’s website, www.duggansserra.com. If you have questions as to how to log in, please contact Duggan’s directly at 650-756-4500. Donations can be made to the Mission High Foundation, the Foundation of City College of San Francisco, or the San Francisco SPCA in Teddy’s honor.