Truro native and father of two Todd Joseph Prada died on May 10, 2025 after walking home from tea dance in Provincetown and lying down to go to bed. The cause of death is not yet known, pending the results of an autopsy, said his wife, Grace. He was 47.
“Todd was the life of the party, lighting up every room with his smile and easy laugh,” said Grace. “You could count on him to crack a joke, lend a hand, or turn a quiet moment into something unforgettable.”
The son of Tom “Punchy” Prada and the late Donna Prada, Todd was born on Aug. 21, 1977 and enjoyed his childhood by the sea along with his many pals, including lifelong friend Greg Morris, who spoke of them hanging out at Cold Storage Beach, riding BMX bikes through the Truro campground, and doing “dumb boy stuff together” as kids.
Todd went to Provincetown High School, becoming a father to his son Tyler, now 28, shortly before graduation.
He left the Cape for a bit in his 20s, working in real estate in Cambridge before his employer transferred him to San Jose, Calif. After a couple of years there, he returned to Cape Cod to be closer to his son. He began working for Greg’s excavating company, GFM Enterprises, as a project manager and estimator.
“I had all the trust in the world in him — I never had to worry,” said Greg, who is based in Dennis and relied on Todd to run the Provincetown end of the business. “He was so organized and meticulous and spot-on about everything. He had such good relationships with all the clients and just got along with everybody.”
Todd went to Dennis every Thursday and the two talked shop over big Italian sandwiches. “He was such an important part of my business and my life,” said Greg.
In 2009, Todd met Grace Ryder-O’Malley of Provincetown and the two became an item. “Even though I grew up in Provincetown and he in Truro, we never met as kids,” she said.
Their paths finally crossed after Todd returned from California. They saw each other at local parties — including once at Grace’s, where she served edamame, which impressed Todd.
“He was like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know East Coast people knew about edamame,’ ” she said. She made sure she had it again the next time he came over, and it became their inside joke; eventually, they had an edamame ornament on their shared Christmas tree.
Todd had many hobbies and passions — including building, rebuilding, and souping up remote-control cars, which he collected. “He had an incredible mechanical mind,” said Grace. He was an excellent cook, learning how to make Portuguese classics from his mother and then teaching himself to cook dishes like stuffed peppers and pot roast — often rustling up friends to come over and eat what Grace, a lifelong vegetarian, would not.
But he also tended a lush vegetable garden in their small yard with the help of a tiered retaining wall he and Grace built, feeding his family with homegrown tomatoes, peppers, garlic, and lettuces.
Todd loved fishing, golf, and sipping espresso martinis. He could often be found blasting electronic dance music in his truck or letting loose on a dance floor, especially at the Boatslip Club’s tea dances in Provincetown. “For a straight guy from Truro, he had this amazing way of crossing all boundaries,” said Grace. “He didn’t care. The dance was outside, there was good music, good drinks, and great people-watching.” She would rent him a room at the Boatslip on Memorial Day weekend so they could have a pad to retreat to with friends in between turns on the dance floor. “We would check in with coolers — no suitcases — and get a room with a balcony over the deck,” she said.
Todd and Grace married in 2020. Two years later, they had a son, Cameron.
Grace said that Todd prioritized being a father — to Tyler, whom he would frequently pick up from school and help with homework when he was young, and then to Cameron.
“He was a loving husband and father who changed every space he walked into,” said Grace. “He had a big heart and adored his family and his friends.” He was “the glue” of his social circle, she added, always making sure to get everyone together for big dinners or group outings on the Bay Lady or for a dune tour.
A big part of that social circle was Todd’s sister Amy. “My brother was a friend to anyone he came in contact with,” she said. “I always told people how lucky I was that my best friends, Todd and Grace, were also my family.”
“He played, he laughed loudly, and he loved deeply,” said Grace. “That’s how he lived, and that’s how he spent his last days.”
Todd is survived by his wife, Grace Ryder-O’Malley; his sons, Tyler and Cameron; his father, Tom “Punchy” Prada of Truro; his sisters, Sherry Prada of Eastham and Amy Prada-Rogers and husband Michael Rogers of Truro; his brother, Tommy Prada and partner Stephanie Peters of Provincetown; nieces and nephews Anna, Carly, Zoe, Monica, Ebben, Alden, Aaron, and Andrew; many aunts and cousins; and a cat named Boomer.
Visiting hours with Todd’s family are planned for Saturday, May 31 from noon to 3 p.m. at Nickerson Funeral Home, 77 Eldredge Park Way, Orleans, followed immediately by a reception.
Greg Morris said his office has been overwhelmed with calls from town officials, clients, and vendors — the John Deere company sent flowers — all expressing condolences about Todd. “It’s honestly kind of mind-blowing,” he said, “the number of people whose lives he touched.”
