Friends remember icon’s heart, hot dogs

Sang Thi Huynh, affectionately known as “the hot dog lady,” was a staple on the OCC campus for almost two decades.

The Costa Mesa woman died of a suspected heart attack Tuesday at the age of 59, leaving family, friends and patrons who walked by the empty hot dog stand that she ran in tears. Those who knew Huynh described her as gentle, talkative and always concerned with the needs of others.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better mother,” said her daughter Doan Do, as tears welled up in her eyes. “She showed us how to unconditionally love people, to see the good in people.”

Few people will miss Huynh more than Edward Hernandez. Hernandez, a stocky plumber with a tattoo on his neck, says he is living proof of Huynh’s unconditional love. The high school dropout who grew up in a culture of gangs credits Huynh for getting him on the right track.

The two had an instant connection when they met in 2005 at the swap meet. After he bought a hot dog, Hernandez told Huynh about his recent trip to her native Vietnam and offered to help her serve food for the rest of the day.

Their friendship grew, and soon Hernandez was working for Huynh at the hot dog cart in the mornings and doing plumbing work in the afternoons.

In the days the two spent together, Huynh worked with Hernandez on his Vietnamese and eventually Hernandez made his way back to Vietnam for a missionary trip where he met Huynh’s family members still living in the country.

Along with Do, Hernandez started a charity called Another Child Touched that raises money to help fund hospitals in Vietnam.

When Hernandez was struggling to keep afloat, he said that Huynh’s generosity helped him put food on the table for him and his son.

She even handed him a check for $400 so that he could get his contractor’s license and start his own plumbing business, Hernandez said.

“She has a heart of gold,” Hernandez said. “Always giving this and giving that.”

Students and campus workers said Huynh was known for giving away free food to those who didn’t have money. Campus maintenance worker Anthony Trejo remembers being the recipient of free food as he made his rounds on the campus.

“She was a good lady. She’s always had a smile,” Trejo said.

Huynh loved to show people hospitality, especially when it came to cooking for them, Do said.

Now, a black metal cage surrounds Huynh’s hot dog stand, and a table in front of the gate features flowers brought by those who miss her.

Do plans to take over the business as soon as funeral services are over, and wants to operate it with the same kindness that her mother showed.

“I feel like something’s missing now,” said OCC’s Dean of Literature and Language Michael Mandelkern.

Another daughter, Uyen Do, will take care of Huynh’s 15-year-old daughter, who was the last of five children living at home. Huynh’s husband died in 2000.

Huynh is survived by four daughters, a son and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will take place at St. John the Baptist Church on Baker Street in Costa Mesa at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at alan.blank@latimes.com.