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Local businessman Lauvao Stephen Haleck passes away suddenly at airport

“I love you” were his last words before boarding the airplane, says Mrs. Melesete Grohse-Haleck, who is still trying to come to terms with the untimely passing of her husband last Friday night. Lauvao Stephen Haleck was on the Hawaiian Air flight heading to meetings in Hawai’i when something happened and he was rushed back off the airplane, onto an ambulance, according to Mrs. Haleck, who spoke as she was fighting back her emotions.

 

She stated that he was coded from the airport all the way to the hospital and when she reached the hospital, the physicians on duty were still trying to revive him, however they were unsuccessful.

 

The Halecks have been married since June 26, 1982, a marriage of 33 years, and they have three girls, one boy and one grandchild, with one more on the way.

 

Among the girls are a set of twins, who turned 21 just days after their father’s passing and it hasn’t been easy for them. According to Mrs. Haleck, her husband’s character is hard to forget because he was not a man who showed any signs of disappointment even if he didn’t agree with anything.

 

“He always put everyone’s needs before his own, he made sure me and the kids were taken care of and when it came to his Lauvao family, he would bend over backwards to make sure his family was taken care of.”

 

Lauvao was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and General Manager of Max Haleck Jr (MHJ) Development Corporation, and oversaw all of its properties, service stations, auto parts, and retail and real estate enterprises.

 

He was bestowed the High Talking Chief title Lauvao (from Aunu’u) in 1998. “He was a humble man whose favorite words were, ‘always be happy’,” Mrs. Haleck said.

 

She said that they had said their goodbyes when he left the house Friday night “and when he was boarding the plane he called me and the girls, and instructed me to take care of the kids. Then he said “I’m heading on the plane, I love you”…. I responded, “I love you too, my love,” said Mrs. Haleck, who was supposed to fly this Friday to meet her husband in Hawai’i.

 

Lauvao served on many boards, including the the MHJ board; the Western Pacific Regional Management Council, the Board of Tradesman Examiners; and, the American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority board.

 

He was a committed member of the Assembly of God, where he served at one time as an Assistant Pastor. Lauvao was also President of the AOG District Sunday School, President of the District Men’s Fellowship and President of the AOG District Youth Ministry.

 

He’s the son of Max Haleck Jr of Pago Pago and Taulima Lauvao Haleck of Aunu’u.

 

Lauvao has four sisters and a brother.

 

“He was the most humble person I know of… extremely humble, extremely responsible," said Mrs, Haleck, who further noted that “everyone who knew him, knows he was just not capable of getting anyone angry, or disappointing anyone, he was that humble — and that is the legacy our children will carry on from here — to remain humble.”

 

She added, their four children will also carry on with their father’s favorite words as part of his legacy to them,  “Be Happy.”

 

Samoa News would like to extend its condolences to Mrs. Haleck and children and the Haleck family.