A senior executive at Estée Lauder, Kendal Ascher, died suddenly in the arms of his husband inside their New York City apartment after briefly complaining that he felt light-headed.
The 56-year-old executive Kendal Ascher, had just finished taking a shower in the early hours of February 25 at the couple’s Chelsea residence — a home valued at about $2.8 million — when he told his husband he was feeling dizzy. According to his husband, William Howe, the moment that followed unfolded with shocking speed.
Howe, 63, said his spouse sat down after mentioning the sudden wave of light-headedness. After waiting a few minutes, Howe helped him stand up so they could walk to the bedroom.
But they barely made it a few steps.
“We only got about four steps,” Howe told reporters. “He said, ‘Wait,’ and then he just went limp.”
Within seconds, the situation turned tragic.
“There was no pulse. He was immediately unresponsive,” Howe recalled. “He died in my arms. It all happened within eight seconds.”
The couple had married just four months earlier in Provincetown, Massachusetts, after spending 12 years together. Friends and colleagues described their relationship as deeply devoted and joyful.
Howe remembered his husband as someone who carried a playful spirit throughout life.
“He was a little boy in a big man’s body,” Howe said. “He loved to laugh and loved to play. He was incredibly selfless — always worrying about others and putting himself second.”
The cause of death remains under investigation. According to Howe, his husband had no known underlying health conditions.
Beyond his personal life, he built a distinguished career in the beauty industry that spanned more than two decades. He first joined Estée Lauder in June 1995 as an account executive for Aramis Designer Fragrances. Over the years, he held senior roles across major beauty brands, including positions with Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and marketing leadership at Kiehl’s while working for L’Oréal.
In 2007, he returned to Estée Lauder and continued rising through the ranks. Most recently, he served as senior vice president and general manager overseeing several luxury brands in North America, including La Mer, Jo Malone, and Darphin.
Colleagues say his sudden passing has left many in the beauty industry shocked and grieving the loss of a respected leader whose career and warmth touched countless people.
