Born in 1937 in Austria, Helmut Huber became an American citizen in 1994 after making the United States his home at the age of 23, by first immigrating to Canada when he was 21. He had already studied to become a chef at L’Ecole Hoteliere in Lausanne, Switzerland, and that’s just the career he pursued when he first arrived in the States, according to People.
He met Susan Lucci when he was food manager at the Garden City Hotel on Long Island, where she was working just after graduating college, per Hollywood Life. “The first time I saw Susie, it hit me,” Huber told People in 1999. “Still today, she walks in a room, and I just light up.”
In 1982, Huber gave up his life as a chef to manage Lucci’s career, which saw her winning the Daytime Emmy award for best actress in 1999 after 19 nominations.
“Helmut’s passing is a tremendous loss for all who knew and loved him. He was an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather, and friend,” read a statement from Jessica Sciacchitano, Lucci’s publicist. “The family kindly asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult time
Huber is survived by his wife, Lucci, 75, as well as two daughters, two sons, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren (via People). Huber’s death is also just one of many heartbreaking soap legend deaths, including Michael Nader, from the past few years.
