‘Our hearts are broken’
Sabados thanks fans for outpouring of support
Steven Sabados released an emotional statement Friday on the death of husband and on-air partner Chris Hyndman.
Sabados, who was born in Niagara Falls, thanked fans for the outpouring of support after Hyndman, 49, was found dead in an alley near their Toronto condo Monday night. Hyndman’s mother believes her son may have been sleepwalking when he fell off the couple’s sixth-floor terrace. Toronto police say the investigation into his death is ongoing.
Sabados and Hyndman hosted an afternoon talk show on CBC simply called Steven and Chris. They were formerly known as The Designer Guys on HGTV.
“I, our families and friends, wish to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming expressions of tenderness, love and tribute in honour of my beloved Christopher,” Sabados posted on the Steven and Chris Facebook page Friday morning. “Our hearts are broken, but we find comfort knowing his generous, largerthan-life spirit lives on.”
“From the moment I met Christopher, we went forward in life, side by side and shoulder to shoulder. He was my best friend, my confidante, my partner, my one love.”
Sabados, a former A.N. Myer student, started his design company The Sabados Group with Hyndman in the late ’80s. They were soon doing set designs for City-TV, with Sabados appearing on camera with host Marilyn Denis.
When Sabados auditioned for a new HGTV show called The Designer Guys, he brought Hyndman along “just for a laugh.” As he told The Niagara Falls Review in 2002, the producers heard them bickering in their usual cheeky way, and offered them both the show.
“They said, ‘ These are the guys.’”
The show’s success led to a daily CBC show in 2008, in which Sabados and Hyndman discussed design, cooking and celebrity gossip.
“This is such an insane career that I fell into; that we both fell into,” Sabados told The Review in 2008. “We get lots of calls from people asking ‘How did you get there?’ and it was such a wild ride. You just keep your eyes on the prize.”
He credited Niagara Falls for nurturing his creative side.
“I used to go down into the escarpment as a little kid and pretend I was an explorer. I would pack a lunch and have a little water canteen. My mother never knew where I was for hours. It was really cool.”
Sabados’ parents still live in Niagara Falls, and Hyndman was a frequent visitor.
On air, the couple seemed complete opposites — Sabados laid back and Hyndman more boisterous. But they developed a charm and charisma viewers loved.
“We’re really not the most professional hosts in town, but what we lack in professionalism we kind of make up for in just having a good time,” Hyndman told The Review seven years ago. “And these are times people just want to tune in and enjoy themselves.”
Hyndman’s body was found in an alleyway south of Queen St. E. and Broadview Ave. in Toronto just past 11 p.m. Monday. Mourning fans have set up a memorial at the CBC building on Front St.
In his Facebook message, which had nearly 20,000 ‘likes’ by Friday afternoon, Sabados said that for “over 27 years, we built a beautiful life together; always remembered, always cherished.”
“As we find our way through this difficult time, we are asking for privacy. Thank you for understanding.”