Sidney Amber; TV Guest Known for Wit, Longevity

Sidney Amber, 109, a popular television guest known for his wit and wisdom as well as his longevity. Born in San Francisco in 1886, Amber was an adult when the 1906 earthquake struck. In 1990, he described the historic disaster, noting that his house burned the second day and that the family lived in a tent provided by the Army and later in a church. He had worked as an amateur boxer, a restaurateur, clothier and sign painter and most recently was the host of the Sears Fine Foods restaurant along the cable car route on San Francisco’s Powell Street. Amber lived in Beverly Hills for 25 years, operating a lighting store on Wilshire Boulevard and then opening a restaurant in Hollywood called Jade Cafe. He became nationally popular as a centenarian when San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen profiled him as Sidney (Forever) Amber. He then appeared on several television programs, including three chats with Jay Leno on the “Tonight Show.” Among the wisdom Amber delightfully shared with audiences was his secret for longevity: a triple dose of Worcestershire sauce before dinner every day. On Friday in San Francisco.