In Memory of Brad Villers (1956-2010)

He was loved and cared for by everyone in the neighborhood. And he cared for everybody. He was an all-around good guy who gave to the community and who fought for people in the neighborhood at the human level. It’s hard not to have him here. — Linda the Laundry Lady

Well known Castro businessman and passionate community activist Brad Villers passed away unexpectedly in mid-March at age 53. Villers owned the Kard Zone on Market Street and had a long and successful background in business and in community involvement. Among other activities he had been on the boards of the Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association (DTNA) and the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro (MUMC).

Two years ago, building on a lifelong ease in caring for young children, the Ohio native began a successful side business as a “manny” for parents in the neighborhood. Brad called his service “Trusted Childcare, MANny Brad to the Rescue.”

Saying, “I loved kids all my life but was not fortunate enough to have them,” Brad had developed his nurturing side growing up in a family of seven brothers and helping his parents raise the younger ones.

Soon after the 2008 inauguration of his manny service, and up until his recent passing, it was not unusual to see Brad walking around the Castro in his trademark shorts and sandals, talking with people in the neighborhood or even attending a community meeting with a sleeping young child tucked securely in his embrace.

In his new career as “manny,” Villers served all families, alternative or not. He observed that some parents “just feel more comfortable with a man.”

As parent Cindy Ward said at the time, Brad was “a wonderful role model for our daughter and nephew . . . He is patient, kind, and the kids love to be with him.”

For Mia Simmons, whose two-and-a-half year old son Leon was cared for by Brad, he was “a savior for me and my husband . . . genuinely wonderful, a real sweetheart and a very upbeat guy. I’m really happy to have him looking after our son.”

A community memorial service for Brad Villers will be held on Saturday, April 3, at 11 a.m., upstairs at the Market & Noe Center (the former Tower Records space), 2284 Market Street. The service is co-sponsored by MUMC and DTNA. Attendees are urged to wear shorts and sandals in Brad’s memory.

The Courier deeply regrets misspelling Brad's first name in the headline of our April issue and send our sincere apologies to the Viller family along with our sympathies.

Copyright 2010 Castro Courier