Samuel Huttenbauer, Jr.

Cincinnati - Samuel Huttenbauer, Jr. a pillar of the Cincinnati community, passed away peacefully at his home on March 23rd, surrounded by family. Sam was the indelible father of Sam III (Lindsey) and Holly and beloved grandfather ("Gramps", as he was known) to Sam & Lindsey's children Sam IV and Annabelle, and Holly's son David.

Sam lived a remarkable and prolific life; upon graduating from Harvard, Sam joined the Army in 1955 where a fortuitous intervention by a relative that was close to President Eisenhower led to service in Italy where he was assigned to a top-secret atomic weapons battalion. Returning to Cincinnati, Sam joined his family business E. Huttenbauer & Sons where he proceeded to transform the then 100-year-old meat packing business into a national conglomerate.

A futurist and consummate entrepreneur, Sam's ingenuity and innovations have advanced agribusiness and benefited the world. He was a pioneer of shelf-stable preservation, microwavable meals, and oncological foods. He developed the original Arby's Roast Beef recipe, pre-cooked hamburger patties, and military rations for Desert Storm. His focuses took him far afield from just food and he was instrumental in creating an environmentally friendly synthetic aviation fuel and biotechnology which enabled plants to produce pharmaceuticals.

He particularly loved his hometown, Cincinnati, and as he modestly once said, "It has been rewarding to play a small role in the positive dynamics of our great city..." ; he served on many boards, including the Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau, where as its Chairman he presided over the largest expansion in the Convention Center's history, the opening of CVG to Delta Airlines and numerous European destinations and the city's selection to host the World Figure Skating Championship in 1987. His love for the arts manifested in his developmental role of the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park where he served on its board for 26 years. He was particularly passionate about his involvement in the Determined Young Men, an organization he helped form to improve the lives of minority entrepreneurs. His Board contributions also included Cincinnati USA Chamber of Commerce, Big Brothers, Sheltering Oaks, Greater Cincinnati Purveyors Association, Robert S. Marx Foundation & the World Piano Competition. All are enduring testaments to that 'small' role.

The world will miss his creativity, his friends will miss the captivating and oft humorous conversations had with Sam and most importantly, his family will miss their elegant, brilliant, loving and devoted father & grandfather.

Memorial donations may be made to the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. https://ticketing.cincyplay.com/donate/contribute1