A love born in a magazine's corridors
Samuel "Chiche" Gelblung passed away on Wednesday, September 9, at the age of 82, at the Mater Dei Sanatorium in Palermo. He had been admitted on Monday with respiratory problems, his fourth hospitalization this year for the same condition, following two stents placed in April. He leaves behind his wife Cristina Seoane, their three children Federico (46), María (43), and Magdalena (39), and seven grandchildren.[S1]
Gelblung and Seoane first crossed paths around 1975 at the offices of Revista Gente, where he was production chief and she was a model invited to appear on the cover of Personajes del año. At the time, Seoane was married, so the romance only began the following year when she was hired as a photo producer. By then, Gelblung had divorced his first wife, Marta Inés Velasco.[S1][S2][S3]
Crises, infidelities, and a lasting bond
The early years were turbulent. Gelblung admitted to being a "pathological and serial cheater" and had relationships with other women, including one from the same editorial office. When Seoane found out, she quit the magazine and threw his records, watches, and cufflinks from a 15th-floor balcony. Despite this, he was determined to win her back with flowers, chocolates, and restaurant dates, and she eventually gave him a second chance.[S2][S4]
The couple faced many challenges, including an exile in Madrid, kidnapping attempts, bomb threats, and public scrutiny. Gelblung often spoke of Seoane as his great love, saying she was the only woman he fought for, the most intelligent and beautiful, and the one who should be his wife forever. He also credited her with helping him reconcile with his parents after a six-year estrangement.[S1][S2]
A life together and a final farewell
After 18 years as a couple, they married in 1995. In 2022, Gelblung received the Martín Fierro de Oro for cable television, and he dedicated the award to Cristina, calling her his lifelong companion. He often expressed that their attraction remained as strong as on the first day, and that he could not be with someone he did not find physically attractive.[S1][S3]
Gelblung's health had been declining, with a hospitalization in May for cardiovascular complications. He died on Wednesday after his condition worsened. His death marks the end of a nearly 50-year love story that survived infidelities, separations, and reconciliations, leaving a legacy of perseverance and partnership.[S2][S3]
