The number of folks who dropped dead without warning in recent months is rather alarming, might this portent a trend of no return?
20 Apr 2023
Man, 47, found dead at Pasir Ris Park, police do not suspect foul play
18 Apr 2023
Decomposing body of man, 54, found in Serangoon HDB flat filled with hoarded items
15 Apr 2023
Stall assistant found dead at Bukit Merah market stall; no foul play suspected, says police
29 Mar 2023
33-year-old woman found dead on LRT track at Cove station in Punggol East
27 Mar 2023
Elderly woman found dead in Holland Drive flat after neighbour notices foul smell
25 Mar 2023
Man spotted ‘sleeping’ at hawker centre declared dead over 12 hours later
15 Mar 2023
Man found dead in waters off Pulau Ubin a day after he 'disappeared'
07 Mar 2023
Woman, 24, found dead at Sim Lim Tower
28 Feb 2023
Decomposing body of woman, 83, found in Ghim Moh HDB flat, no foul play suspected
25 Feb 2023
Man found dead in Golden Mile carpark, no foul play suspected
Chef who helmed restaurant in Keong Saik dies aged 33, he had only married earlier this year
Chef Stefan Liau opened his own restaurant in November 2023
Just over a year after opening his restaurant, and barely one year after getting married, the chef-owner of a restaurant along Keong Saik Road has passed away at the age of 33.
The news of Mr Stefan Liau’s sudden passing was broken by his restaurant, Hevel, on Saturday (7 Dec) over Instagram.
Restaurant staff ‘heartbroken’ at passing of chef Stefan Liau
According to the post, Mr Liau was “a kind mentor, a devoted husband, and a close friend” who “touched countless lives with his warmth, creativity, and genuine love for those around him”.
Thus, “no words can express how heartbroken” they are by his death, it said, adding:
The restaurant expressed gratefulness for the love and support of fans, and said it would continue to operate through January next year and “until further notice”, adding:
He got married only in January
His widow, Claresta, told Shin Min Daily News at his wake in Craig Road that the family received the bad news on Friday (6 Dec) morning and it was difficult to accept.
They declined to disclose his cause of death, saying only that his funeral service would be on Monday (9 Dec) and he would then be cremated.
Claresta described her husband as an excellent and dedicated chef who had been in F&B since he was 16, making his mark in the competitive industry through hard work.
The couple got married in January this year, according to his most recent Instagram post on 31 Jan that shared photos of the wedding.
Choking up, Claresta said that when she saw all her friends mourning her husband:
Chef Stefan Liau opened his restaurant in November 2023
Mr Liau opened Hevel on 16 Nov last year, according to Tatler Asia.
The contemporary European restaurant had tasting menus designed by him for refined communal dining experiences.
It was his first time owning a restaurant after stints at Michelin-starred restaurants in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore.
Claresta said they just celebrated Hevel’s one-year anniversary last month. Her husband had always wanted to bring affordable fine dining to more people and strove to discover and nurture talented young chefs.
Hevel’s future now unclear
Miguel, Hevel’s managing director, said Mr Liau said opening the restaurant was a “big gamble” for him as he gave up a stable job as head chef at an exclusive local club.
The team was caught off-guard by his sudden passing, he added, and Hevel’s future was now unclear.
The restaurant will be temporarily closed until 10 Dec and hopes to resume business on 11 Dec.