Fred Cothard was enjoying the Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary concert when he "suddenly collapsed," his family revealed in a statement on their GoFundMe page.
The 'Grateful Dead' Fan Collapsed During the Song 'They Love Each Other'
The Grateful Dead fan died a couple of hours later at a hospital; the cause of death was not specified. Jody Leddy shared a statement on Facebook indicating that Cothard was dancing with her to the song "They Love Each Other" when he collapsed. She shared a last photo she said was taken of Cothard just two hours before he died.
“I was holding him, talking to him about his kids, and kissing him until hours after the doctor pronounced him,” Leddy wrote. “This is the last photo of us, about two hours before he collapsed.”
The 54-year-old Cothard was from Michigan, according to his obituary.
"Fred was a master carpenter since his teens and has owned and operated Cothard Construction & Remodeling Inc. since the early '90s. The majority of his work was serving the Michiana area," the obit says.
'Grateful Dead' Fan Fred Cothard's Death Left His Kids With 'Unimaginable Grief'
"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden passing of our father, Fred Cothard - a beloved father, son, friend, business owner, and true member of the Grateful Dead community," the GoFundme page, which was organized by his daughter Sadie Cothard, reads.
"Fred's sudden passing has left his children me, Sadie Cothard, and my twin brother, Sawyer Cothard, in unimaginable grief," it says.
"Our dad, Fred, was an incredible father and friend to all. Whether you knew Fred well or only encountered him briefly chances are he made a lasting impression," the post continues.
Fellow Deadheads are mourning Fred Cothard, 54, who died from a heart attacked during Dead & Company's final show on Sunday.
— The San Francisco Standard (@sfstandard) August 7, 2025
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"The one thing we know for sure about our dad is that his love for us was endless, but his love for the Grateful Dead, and the Grateful Dead community meant almost as much as his love for us," the GoFundMe page statement says.
"Our dad was attending their 60th anniversary show in San Francisco when he suddenly collapsed. Even though this was sudden and we were not there with him, we take comfort in knowing that he was surrounded by thousands of his Dead family, and the music that he loved so much."
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