Baker On 'Cake Boss' Dies

ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 2012 AND THEREAFTER - FILE - In this Tuesday, March 13, 2012 file photo, Chongqing party secretary Bo Xilai, foreground, attends the closing session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference held at Beijing's Great Hall of the People in China. Author Qiu Xiaolong has qualms about Bo Xilai's style during his time as party chief in the sprawling Yangtze River metropolis of Chongqing, when he championed mass sing-alongs that harked back to the Cultural Revolution days. It "speaks of the real danger of the Cultural Revolution staging a comeback," Qiu said. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan) / Alexander F. Yuan

Sal Picinich, a veteran baker who appeared on the reality TV series "Cake Boss," has died in New Jersey. He was 63.

His wife, Lucille, told The Record newspaper the cause was cancer.

Picinich was born on the Croatian island of Susak.

He worked 45 years at Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken, where the TV series is recorded.

The bakery's publicist says Buddy "The Cake Boss" Valastro looked up to Picinich as a "second father." Picinich had worked under Valastro's late father, Buddy Valastro Sr.

Picinich stopped appearing on the show when he began battling illness in late 2009. However, he returned last summer to accept the employee of the century award to mark the bakery's 100th anniversary.

The Carlstadt resident is survived by his wife and two sons.

[brian_norwood]

Sorry to hear it. I love the show, and Sal Picinich seemed like a really likable guy.