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The Altoona area has lost a man who spent his life helping others enjoy their lives.
Dennie Huber, 60, 2547 Union Ave., best known as a master balloon artist and magician, died Sunday in Pittsburgh.
“He was a unique individual. I’ve known him since I was a kid. He was Santa Claus at the Logan Valley Mall when I was a kid. He always did stuff for the kids,” said local artist Cory Geishauser.
Huber, who was known as “Hubie the Clown” years ago, was always involved in entertaining.
“He was (the) drummer in a band called Dennie Huber and the Crazy Notions in the 1970s,” Geishauser said. “He made a full-time career out of music, entertainment, magic and art. He played at large festivals throughout the area. It is amazing how much he gave and donated over the years and contributed to so many organizations without accepting a penny. It is mind-boggling how he made a living by giving so much back to the community.”
Geishauser said he put a cartoon tribute to Huber on Facebook. After a short period of time, he had about 1,000 likes and 500 shares.
Jim Price, a local radio personality, said Huber started a talent show called Crazy Fest back in the 1990s.
“It started as a talent competition, and he made it into a youth talent competition. It became a showcase for youth talent,” Price said.
The Grammy-award winning group Halestorm and local singer Angela Dodson got their starts through Crazy Fest, Price said.
Price said Huber was a very charitable man who loved kids.
“It was not uncommon for him between gigs to stop at a charitable event and blow balloons up for the kids and donate the proceeds to the charity,” Price said.
Huber was a friend of the Hollidaysburg Area Public Library.
“We were lucky enough to have him at several of our events. He was part of our Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive. He wore the same outfit in both 2014 and 2015,” said Melanie Ramsey, the library’s director of youth and children’s services. “He was a very generous person. He remembered the kids’ names; he was interested in the kids with special needs. He was generous with his time and materials.
“Any kind of community event, which benefited children, he was always there for it.”
Huber also was a regular at the Bedford County Fair.
“Dennie had been with us for a long time. He was a great guy to work with; he would do anything to accommodate you. The kids loved him; we loved him here,” said Manager John Holbert, a longtime friend. “He was an institution; he was a tradition here at the Bedford County Fair.”
Huber is survived by his wife, Donna, and sisters: Kyle Gwin and Heidi Teeter, both of Altoona.
Funeral arrangements will be made by The Stevens Mortuary Inc.