Grateful Dead fans help fund cancer treatment for former member Tom Constanten

Posted On December 19, 2025December 19, 2025

Fans of the Grateful Dead are rallying around their former member, Tom Constanten, to help fund his cancer treatment.

Constanten was only a member of the legendary group for a very brief period between 1968 and 1970, but his role in Grateful Dead history has never been forgotten by the faithful Deadheads.

While serving in the US Army as a computer programmer during the Vietnam War, Constanten began working with the Grateful Dead and made his on-stage debut the day after he was honourably discharged in 1968.

During his tenure with the group, he contributed to their albums Anthem of the Sun, Aoxomoxoa and Live/Dead.

Now, Constanten has been able to rely upon the band’s loyal fanbase as he undergoes radiation treatments for lung cancer. They have helped him raise over $60,000 over the last few months, as he edges close to his GoFundMe target of $70,000.

Constanten told The San Francisco Chronicle in an interview regarding his cancer battle, “I’m going for a round of chemo tomorrow. Each round knocks me out for days, though so far that’s the one symptom. It’s pretty intense.”

The kindness of the Grateful Dead family has also been extended to Candace Brightman, who served as their lighting director from 1972 and 1995. They have helped raise $75,000 as she battles with failing eyesight, financial issues, and a range of health problems.

Additionally, they have also come together to raise vital funds for Harry Popick, who was the band’s onstage monitor engineer, and Betty Cantor-Jackson, a producer and sound recorder that captured some of the Grateful Dead’s most cherished cult material.

Another example of their community spirit is how they helped Hollywood star Miles Teller after he lost his home in the Los Angeles fires, which destroyed his prized possessions, including his huge collection of Grateful Dead memorabilia.

He said on This Past Weekend with Theo Von in November, “When our house burned down, one of the things I was most upset was all these vintage Grateful Dead shirts, but that community is so awesome.”

Teller then explained that while he’s not on social media, fans began to reach out to his wife to say, “‘We feel so bad for you guys, and we know if our house burned down, we’d really miss those shirts. Can we send you some from our own collections?’ So, a bunch of people, shout out to you, sent me shirts.”

The Eternity star continued: “It’s such a loving community, I feel like all those bands from that era, especially the Dead, really kind of supported everybody. Their crowds were rainbow coloured before anybody’s.”

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