Herbert “Herb” Heinz Loinig, longtime Shelter Island resident, passed away surrounded by loved ones on Friday, February 20, 2026. He was 81 years old. Herb was born on June 8, 1944 in Baden, Austria to Helene E. (née Mildner) and Matthias Loinig. He was the younger of two boys in a post-war Europe, which at times had its challenges. After high school, he attended the Swiss Hotel Management School. From there, Herb traveled all over the world working on the Swedish-American Cruise line, where he met lots of interesting people, explored many far away lands, and was exposed to various cultures, customs and cuisines. It was during one of those trans-continential cruises that he connected with what our family has lovingly called our American side of the family. It was through them he came to settle in New York permanently and made Kew Gardens our early family base. On August 31, 1979, at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs R.C. Church in Forest Hills, NY, he married the love of his life, the late Yvonne M. (née Boyer) Loinig. Herbert took great joy in introducing Yvonne to his homeland, resulting in frequent travels to Austria and the rest of continental Europe. Together they had one daughter, Aimee Marie. Herb spent many years of his restaurant career as the head of the banquet department at Windows on the World, the former restaurant, meeting and entertainment venue on the top of the original North Tower of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. During the late 1990s, he left to focus fulltime on their home on Shelter Island as the owners and innkeepers of the Belle Crest Inn. Oftentimes, driving by the Belle Crest you would see Herb out front, whether he was watering the flowers, having a yard sale or just watching the cars pass and waving to familiar faces. Quick to engage in conversation, and often you would hear Herb before you saw him, he would frequently be bellowing out, “what’s going on?” He had a love of the arts, antiques, and music. He could speak several languages effortlessly, play the piano beautifully without reading the notes, and could cook anything to delicious perfection, including making these delectable light and fluffy omelets. In later years, he enjoyed spending time with his grandsons and then more recently, he welcomed the newest addition of a baby granddaughter. Prior to living on Shelter Island, Herbert lived with Yvonne in Kew Gardens, NY and East Hampton, NY. Predeceased by his wife Yvonne; and brother Gerhart Loinig; he is survived by his daughter Aimee Marie Loinig of Ivoryton, CT and her husband Matthew Carr; grandchildren Gavin Carr, Liam Carr and Adeline Carr; and cousins in Vienna, Austria. A Memorial Mass is planned for Saturday, June 13, 2026, 10:30am, at Our Lady of the Isle R.C. Church on Shelter Island, officiated by Father Peter DeSanctis. A Mass in his honor will also be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, 4pm, at Saint John R.C. Church in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. The DeFriest-Grattan Shelter Island Funeral Home is serving the family. In lieu of flowers, donations in Herbert’s name can be made to Connecticut Hospice in Branford, CT.