Leslie “Les” Huber

Leslie “Les” Huber, affectionately known as Lutzy and Laszlo, departed this life on Saturday, January 29th, 2022.

Born January 31,1941 in Budapest, Hungary, he grew up modestly but always made the best of what little he had.  In 1956 at the age of 15, during the Hungarian Revolution (the Soviet invasion of Hungary), he escaped from the country on foot traveling over 250km to cross the border into Austria. He eventually migrated to America as one of 35,000 Hungarian refugees given quarter at the Camp Kilmer Military Barracks in Piscataway, NJ.

Speaking no English, Les was enrolled in Middle School to learn the language and was fostered by the Adams Family of Bernardsville, NJ until age 17 and the completion of 8^th grade.  He then joined his mother Gisella, after she was safely able to make passage to the United States.

Initially settling in Newark, NJ, Les made the most of the next few years going back to his love of soccer, playing on a club team, and making new friends.  His love of 50’s music led him to playing the drums in a band on weekends as he maintained steady work in a number of odd jobs.  It was during that time that he met his wife of 58 years Maria.  They were engaged and married in under a year, and within the year to follow welcomed their son Steven and 4 years later their daughter Deborah was born.

Les, now a family man, decided to move following the riots in Newark in the late 60’s and looking for a bargain, found a literal “fire sale” of a home in Piscataway.  He loved to tell the story of his first home that he purchased out of foreclosure.  After the closing, he began clearing the yard with the grass having grown higher than the fence and discovered an above ground swimming pool in the backyard.  Les and Maria raised their family in that home for 25 years.  During that time Les discovered he had a knack for retail sales. A snappy dresser in his day, Les was very outgoing and was no stranger to hard work. He began working at and eventually began managing a men’s specialty store in Bound Brook, NJ.  Les eventually moved into car sales where he became a Manager at Somerville Dodge for over 15 years and finished his career with Nissan.

With their first grandchild on the way, Les and Maria moved to Flemington, NJ where he resided until his passing.  After retiring from car sales, he opened and managed a few small retail businesses, including Hubby’s Watchband & Battery Repair in the Dutch County Farmers Market in Flemington.  Les loved being around people. He also loved his customers and always had a joke or two, and he never forgot a face.  He met and made many friends during his many years in retail. Les was also an excellent cook.  He took great pride in preparing authentic Hungarian meals like Hungarian Goulash and Chicken Paprikash for friends and family while sharing stories of his early life in Hungary.

Les’ greatest love other than his family was fishing.  It was his true passion that he shared with both of his children and his two grandsons.  He always had a few fishing rods and a tackle box in the trunk of his car just in case he saw a place that looked promising.  In later years, Les even figured out how to manage his fishing gear with his walker.  His favorite spot to fish was Round Valley Reservoir.  He spent many a night fishing with his friends Ed and Fran on their boat catching many (as reported) lake and rainbow trout.

Les loved to dance, play pinochle, and was a devoted and frustrated NY Jets Fan.

Les leaves behind his wife, Maria Huber (nee Osinski) of 58 years; son, Steven Huber and wife, Lauren; his daughter, Deborah Huber; two grandsons, Shane and Kolton; his brother-in-law, Stanley Osinski and lifelong friends Kathy and Bill Gulya.

Les will be greatly missed by his family and friends and as his grandson said, “Every time I hear a funny fish story or a corny joke, I will think of Grandpa wearing his fish suspenders.”

Rest in eternal peace and know you will never be forgotten.

You are encouraged to visit Les’ permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

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