SAN FRANCISCO — Authorities recognized a physique discovered late Wednesday at Pier 39 as standard Bay Space radio host Jeffrey “JV” Vandergrift, 55, who went lacking from his San Francisco dwelling on Feb. 23.
Investigators didn't specify a preliminary explanation for demise or subject a ruling on the character of the demise.
Vandergrift, a longtime morning present host at Wild 94.9, co-founded and co-hosted the favored Doghouse present through the early Nineteen Nineties. The present soared in reputation, largely attributable to on-air antics, stunts, pranks and raunchy humor. After the Doghouse moved to New York and ultimately disbanded, Vandergrift returned to Wild 94.9 to host “The JV Present.” After his return to the Bay Space, Vandergrift reunited together with his co-host on the Doghouse, Elvis “Dan” Lay, for an AM speak present and recurring podcast.
Final week, Vandergrift’s co-hosts on the JV Present introduced again Lay and greater than a dozen of Vandergrift’s former colleagues from his 30-year radio profession, to memorialize him. Lay was introduced on for your entire week as a tribute to the Doghouse days, which he and Vandergrift co-hosted for greater than a decade.
“Making (Vandergrift) chuckle was one of many joys of my life,” Lay mentioned on the air throughout a March 13 broadcast.
In the course of the peak of the Doghouse’s reputation, Vandergrift grew to become a neighborhood superstar within the Bay Space. He was adored by followers for his down-to-earth fashion. He exuded self-confidence however was additionally open about private issues or his personal shortcomings, and often went out of his strategy to help listeners or members of the general public in want. In the course of the weeklong memorial on Wild 94.9, a number of former colleagues described how he would often cease handy $100 payments to unsheltered individuals whereas driving round San Francisco, or that he silently helped their very own careers with out looking for credit score.
Final 12 months, Vandergrift revealed that he had been recognized with Lyme illness in 2021; the sickness had precipitated him appreciable struggling. On his final broadcast, simply hours earlier than he went lacking on Feb. 23, Vandergrift gave the impression of his typical vivacious self, cracking jokes and discussing the information of the day with co-hosts Selena and Graham. However halfway via the present he offered a bleak replace on his situation.
“The physique and the ache and all that stuff, I can deal with. What it’s doing to my mind I may by no means describe to you,” Vandergrift mentioned, including that docs had advisable experimental procedures or surgical procedure that might lead to cognitive impairments.
Six days after his disappearance, his spouse put out an announcement saying new proof suggests he “is not going to be coming again.” His physique was found simply days after his fifty fifth birthday.
In a letter to the group posted on social media at the moment, Vandergrift’s spouse, Natasha Yi, thanked supporters for his or her concern and efforts in serving to discover her husband, and mentioned he was nonetheless formally thought-about a lacking individual.
“JV and I've at all times thought-about this group a part of our household, so I need to let you realize that non-public data has just lately been found that leads us to consider JV is not going to be coming again,” Yi wrote. “I inform you this with unimaginable ache and disappointment in my coronary heart.”
Yi mentioned police have requested her to maintain particular particulars to “instant household solely.”
“Please forgive my silence throughout this time. My coronary heart is completely damaged and the ache feels insufferable,” she wrote.
She added that “no foul play” was suspected in his disappearance. San Francisco police had mentioned Vandergrift was thought-about in danger.
In his April 2022 return to the airwaves, he additionally brazenly mentioned coping with suicidal ideations, however mentioned he was working to return to work full time. Yi’s assertion known as his two years with the illness “bodily torture.”
Regardless of the hiatus, Vandergrift stayed pretty energetic on social media. Considered one of his remaining Twitter posts, in typical vogue, was to solicit donations for a listener going via a private tragedy.
Vandergrift was final seen round 10 p.m. Feb. 23 close to his dwelling within the 200 block of King Road in San Francisco. Wild 94.9 later put out an announcement saying there had been no exercise on his cellphone or bank cards since his disappearance.
In his final Instagram put up, edited to the previous tense across the time of his disappearance, Vandergrift wrote, “thanks for an exquisite life — stuffed with pleasure, laughs, ache, and wrestle.”
“It’s been an incredible journey. Your help and prayers meant the world,” the put up says. “Hold shinin’ love, compassion, understanding, reality, forgiveness, peace, and hope for others.”
When you or somebody you realize is fighting emotions of despair or suicidal ideas, the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline gives free, round the clock help, data and sources for assist. Attain the lifeline at 988 or 800-273-8255, or see the 988lifeline.org web site.