EXCLUSIVE Hollywood matchmaker Amber Kelleher-Andrews who worked with Eva Longoria and Hoda Kotb dies at 56
Hollywood matchmaker Amber Kelleher-Andrews - who worked with Eva Longoria on the reality TV show Ready For Love - has died at the age of 56, DailyMail.com has learned from her family.
She helped matchmake stars like former Today show host Hoda Kotb, comedian David Spade and singer Paula Abdul as well as football player Terrell Owens.
Amber started working with her mother Jill Kelleher 30 years ago and helped turn their business Kelleher International into a global success.
The blonde beauty, who used to be a model, had been battling ovarian cancer since 2017. She passed away on April 13 and will be laid to rest in Hawaii.
Her cousin Morgan Kelleher shared the news of Amber's passing.
'Our family suffered a huge loss last week with the passing of my cousin Amber, who was born five days after me in 1969,' he began his note.
'She left behind three beautiful children, ages 19, 21 and 23 as well as her loving husband of 25 years, her mother Jill, her brother Flynn, who she helped raise, her aunts, cousins, and uncle, and the hundreds of friends that she made during her time with us.'
Morgan added: 'She was larger than life and had an infectious laugh as a little girl.'
At age 12, Amber was elated when her baby brother Flynn was born, he added.
'She helped take care of him after school. She also had a successful modeling career during her teenage years and early twenties. She was in a few commercials on tv and often in Macy's ads in the Chronicle. She made lifelong friends in grammar school, and high school, many of whom have shared their support and love for Amber during this past week,' he also shared.
'Amber always dreamt of being a mother and that became a reality after she married the love of her life, Nico. We all enjoyed watching her as a mother because she was so inclusive with us in celebrating and supporting her kids.
' She was extremely successful with her career, and it was obvious that she was truly grateful to work alongside her mother.
'She built upon that success by hosting gatherings of other successful entrepreneurs, musicians and actors to discuss ways to give back, the benefits of philanthropy, and exploring different forms of sustainability.
'She was very humble about the many famous people that considered her a friend, and humble about her role on the board of Virgin Unite, the philanthropic organization founded by Richard Branson.
'Most importantly, Amber would want to be remembered as a fun mom, that loved to swim, dance and sing while embracing every sunset, randomly calling friends and family to join on trips, or share a laugh.
Morgan added that she was 'super generous and loyal to a fault,' and never really acknowledged her joie de vivre that attracted so many people to her.
'She would often take one of her kids on business, or leisure trips to spend one-on-one time with them, or reward them for doing good in school.
'They would explore new restaurants, neighborhoods, amusement parks, hike along the coast, shop, swim at a beautiful waterfall, or clear water swim spot that looked like heaven.
Amber first fought ovarian cancer in 2017 and within 3 months her stage 4 cancer was in full remission, he noted.
'The horrible thing about ovarian cancer is that it often returns even stronger than the first time. She fought for over 4 months this year, and never complained about the pain but found every opportunity to crack a joke, or make someone laugh.'
There will be a celebration of life in Santa Barbara in the next few months.
Her final resting place will be Hanalei, Hawaii.
Branson's company Virgin also made a tribute.
'In early 2013, philanthropist, Cindy Mercer, organized a lunch that would be the start of a thirteen-year friendship and impact partnership with Amber Kelleher Andrews.
'What Amber called a 'sliding door moment' in her life that 'blossomed into a Universal door, impacting countless lives and contributing positively to our planet.'
'From that lunch on, especially after being inspired by Richard, Amber was on an unstoppable mission to leverage her incredible company and community for positive impact in the world.
'Helping people connect with their purpose, find meaning in their lives, embed purpose in their businesses, and generously supporting initiatives all over the world with millions of dollars, touching millions of lives.
'Amber is proof that one person can change the course of history for the better. She connected Virgin Unite and our partners to over 350+ people who she sparked into action. Giving lift off to initiatives like 100% Human at Work, The Planetary Guardians, criminal justice reform and many frontline projects like Made by Dyslexia.
'As a human being, Amber was a bright light that lit up every room she entered.
'An endless well of joy that she generously shared with everyone in her orbit, something that will continue to fuel us all.
'She was also a great example of someone who can hold a space of difference and bridge divides, always remaining loving and a friend who always had your back.
'We were opposites in many ways with differing political views, and I'm sure I constantly made her smile with my lack of glamour. Yet we were bonded in our mission to connect people and ignite them to act.
Her cousin Morgan Kelleher shared the news of Amber's passing. 'Our family suffered a huge loss last week with the passing of my cousin Amber, who was born five days after me in 1969,' he began his note; seen in 2012
'Amber was all about connection. Bringing the best ideas together with the best people and then watching magic happen. Richard and Virgin Unite's ten-year partnership with Amber and her team have created ripples of impact that will keep her legacy alive for generations to come.
'As Richard so eloquently put it, 'Amber was a treasure to this world. Her joy, love, and sheer determination to make the world a better place was awe inspiring. We feel so fortunate to have had her as part of the Virgin Unite family for over a decade.
'Her legacy will live on in the many millions of peoples' lives she touched through her generosity and through sparking purpose in so many peoples' lives. She will be greatly missed, and we send our love to her entire family and to her children who she was so very proud of.'
'She loved to call her gatherings, 'Success to Significance', which is what she lived in her own life. Embedding purpose in all she did. She made it her mission to bring light, love, and purpose to millions of people all over the world. They are all sparkling right now like a perpetual tailwind, all sending love and strength to a world that desperately needs it.
'Amber, thanks for not just walking through that sliding door, but for running through it towards a legacy that truly has created universal sliding doors of impact for so many. We will all miss you greatly.'
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