Read Candice "Candy" J. Phrogus's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Candice "Candy" J. Phrogus

Oakland, CA

May 8, 1984 - June 20, 2021

May 8, 1984 - Jun 20, 2021

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Candice "Candy" J. Phrogus died on June 20, 2021 at age 37, with her mother and boyfriend at her side. She was born on May 8, 1984 and grew up in Berkeley. She had recently moved into a shared home in Oakland to be near her dear friend, Tiff. Candy touched many people with her vivid personality and volunteer work to bring joy to the SF Bay Area cycling community.

Candy is survived by mother Jessica, brother Joseph and his daughter Alayna, father Fred and his wife Tonie, several step-siblings, and 3 additional nieces. She was preceded in death by her aunt Melanie, an important figure in her life. The other loves of her life were her bicycle and her niece dog, Diamond, who she called “Princess Muffin Puff” (and Diamond’s owner - Patrick, her boyfriend who she called Dog Daddy.)

Candy struggled with alcohol addiction. It didn't abate with interventions by friends or family, but they are grateful that she had good care to the end at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland. Addiction can isolate people while making them more needy, so for anyone suffering from it, every day is a good day to reach out to people who believe in you. You can make it. Candy kept her condition private, but she wouldn't lie to Patrick about drinking and her final month was sober. He believed she could turn it around, and on their last visit when they kissed goodbye, he didn't know she would be gone too soon the next day. The disease took her health but it didn't take her love.

Candy loved camping, hiking, watching Netflix, art and being a "fashionista". She liked traveling, and joined her dad on a cruise to Alaska. Caswell Memorial Park was her place to go river tubing. At home in her backyard, she made Tiktok videos with Diamond to send to her nieces, along with gifts like a skateboard and hand drawn cards. She would make delicious garlic green beans for people close to her. Her most requested foods were sushi, burgers from Nations, and tacos from her favorite truck at the Hotsy Totsy; but she hated fake banana flavor, fennel, and Oreos (except in a milkshake). She loved collecting Pusheen toys (only green and purple). Her bike was custom built by her friend Mike, and painted with bones by her mom, with purple chrome parts.

Growing up in the 90's, Eve 6 was one of her favorite bands, following a mutual obsession with her friend Lea. They saw and met the band together several times, and Candy appeared in their music video. In 2021 Lea made her happy with news of the band's reactivation. Candy also requested to commission Lea's talent for an illustration, and it became her memorial invitation.

In the 90's at Berkeley High school and out on the town at Gilman Street punk shows, Candy was known for frequently changing hair color, especially screaming bright green. Green was the color of the goblin tattoo on her back (Harold), the jewels she often wore on her forehead, and her prized turtle backpack. Her wardrobe was full of fancy socks and leggings, dresses for bike riding, a Wonder Woman outfit, her personally sewn pink "Where the Wild Things Are" costume, and cosplay for fun. In 2019 she made a pink Jackie O. style outfit as "Dr. Girlfriend" (from the Venture Brothers cartoon) for a trip to the Adult Swim festival in Los Angeles, where she loved seeing herself and Patrick together on screen around the stadium.

Creative talent led Candy to study photojournalism in college. Afterward, she worked as personal assistant to artists and business owners, and helped post years worth of her mom's ceramic art and paintings on the internet.

Volunteering for East Bay Bike Party became one of her biggest passions. She helped coordinate their monthly open ride that brought joy to hundreds of riders at a time. Her contributions were for social media and leading the party on the street. At one ride, she met her first husband Jesus and they were married from 2012-2017. Jesus remembers Candy as very attentive to including people, and is a very good man in the eyes of her friends. In 2019 she met Patrick, who shared her love of the cycling community. Candy also did social media work for the Bike Rescue nonprofit with her friends Tiff and Charlotte, helping to fix and donate thousands of bikes to needy people in the community.

Everyone knew Candy for her fierce looks and feisty heart. Her friend Damon said: "She was the one who would walk up to death, shake his hand and kick him in the balls." Her friend Senta wrote about noticing her at Bike Party: "You were a real "character", and that's one of the highest compliments in my book." Her friend Jerm said "she made time to play video games she didn't even like, to spend time with her nieces and friends." Tonie Phrogus said: “'Auntie Candy' set the bar high for her nieces... they loved her style & she influenced their creativity... her passing is so hard for them… They will always miss & have fond memories of 'Auntie Candy'".

Memories of Candy are being shared in her Facebook tribute group where members are preparing her memorial: https://www.facebook.com/grou…

On July 18 from 2-6, there is a closed gathering at Candy's mother's house in Berkeley. From 6-8, an open public tribute bike ride will go from nearby Strawberry Creek Park to Mosswood Park in Oakland. From 8 to late is a celebration of life party nearby at Tiff's house.

Donations in lieu of flowers are requested. Funds will be split by Bike Rescue and Rich City Rides to benefit the cycling community. Please visit Candy's memorial fundraiser to donate.

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