Top Chef’s Howard “Howie” Kleinberg Dead at 46

It Chefs of the TopFamilie is grieving the passing of Howard “Howie” Kleinberg.

According to his obituary the Florida-based chef died on July 22. His age was 46. Kleinberg’s mother, SusanThe author told Miami HeraldHe died from a heart attack. 

“I am just finding out how many lives he touched,” she shared with the publication. His passion was cooking, and he was married to it.

Kleinberg died shortly after he was informed. Chefs to WatchOn social media, Kleinberg was remembered. A post by Bravo’s #TopChef shows that the Bravo family was saddened to read about Howard Kleinberg’s sudden passing. official Twitter account read. “Howie loved cooking and his passion filled many people. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family.”

According to Miami Herald, Kleinberg was born in South Florida and attended culinary school at Johnson & Wales University. His career began at InterContinental Miami and he continued to work in various restaurants and hotels including Timo and Ivy Aventura as well as The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. 

He once said, “They gave us a chef’s knife.” Southeast Food Service NewsHis early days at InterContinental Miami were “and the next thing you know, I was hooked.”