MAX HUBER REMEMBERED

Tim Willert

LOS ANGELES -- Max Huber was laid to rest Thursday morning, but not

before family and friends packed a chapel to remember the popular

Glendale resident.

Huber, a 1999 graduate of Hoover High, died June 11 from head injuries

he received after falling off a skateboard near his home. Huber attended

Glendale Community College at the time of his death.

An estimated 400 people filled the Church of the Hills at Forest Lawn,

Hollywood Hills on Thursday to pay tribute to Huber, 20.

“We have a lot of unexplained emotions,” the Rev. Neal Brower told the

audience. “We must embrace it all, as difficult as that may be.”

Friends and family members, including Huber’s father and two uncles,

recalled Max’s respect for others, his artistic talent and his love for

the outdoors.

“Max enriched all of our lives, he touched us very deeply,” said

Carlos Garcia, Huber’s uncle. “Think of all the good memories we can all

share together and remember them.”

Said Greg Huber, Max’s father: “I believe that faith is displayed in

your actions. Take a minute each day to touch someone else’s life.”

Huber’s mother, Margaret, and sister, Anna Engstrom, were overcome

with grief and did not address the audience. But a letter Anna wrote that

was read during the service touched on missed opportunities to spend more

time together.

“If I could only have one more day, one more hour [with you], the

letter read.

Following the service, Huber was buried a few hundred yards away. A

reception to honor Huber took place afterward.

“He was the most charismatic individual I’ve ever met,” said Phillip

Tabrizi, 20, who first met Huber in the ninth grade. “You wanted to be

friends with him.”

Standing next to Tabrizi following the service was 21-year-old Katrin

Akbarian, who grew up across the street from Huber and his mother.

“There’s a lot of confusion,” Akbarian said. “I just don’t know what

I’m supposed to do.”