PASADENA >> Beloved local culinary mentor Lawrence “Larry” Bressler and his wife Denise were stabbed to death early Monday morning following a dispute with a family member.

Larry Bressler, 50, was the general manager at Chefs Center, a commercial kitchen rental space that has helped launch many successful local businesses. Chefs Center sent out a release identifying the Bresslers shortly after the incident. Denise Bressler was 64.

Joe Coletti, founder of Chefs Center, said Bressler’s shoes will be tough to fill.

“There are so many businesses that owe their success to Larry that I can’t even quote the number,” Coletti said. “The loss is huge.”

Among the success stories that started in Bressler’s kitchen are Slammin’ Sliders food truck and Coolhaus ice cream food trucks and stores. The center is celebrating its fifth year.

Bressler also taught at Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in Pasadena for 11 years.

“He was just a loved and well respected member of our Le Cordon Bleu family. He taught with a passion and zest for life,” said Michael Giacomini, president of Le Cordon Bleu Los Angeles. “All of us were severely shocked and deeply saddened to hear of chef Bressler and his wife Denise’s passing.”

Those who worked with Larry Bressler described him as a patient teacher who was always willing to lend a helping hand. Rob Feldman, co-owner of Pasadena based The Art of Caramel popcorn company that got its start at Chefs Center this year, said Bressler would not hesitate to “roll up his sleeves and offer his experience, free of charge.”

“It wasn’t just a facility, Larry also offered mentoring to people who worked there and he really did care about all the businesses that were under his roof and cared about the people working there. I think that’s what made it a really special place,” Feldman said. “You could really tell he just had a deep passion for what he did and wanted to help people.”

Police said a man called 9-1-1 just after the incident at around 6:20 a.m. Monday to report the stabbing. Paramedics transported a couple to the hospital but they succumbed to their injuries, officials said.

Officers caught the suspect, a relative of the victims, about a block away from the apartment in the 200 block of North Madison Avenue, according to Pasadena Police Lt. Tracey Ibarra. He had blood on him at the time of the arrest but it was unclear whether it was his blood or that of the victims. Detectives found a knife at the scene. Ibarra would not describe the knife.

Coletti said the suspect was a second cousin the Bresslers had taken in to try and help him. Police have not released the suspect’s name. He has not been arrested and remains hospitalized for injuries he suffered during the attack, officials said.

Josh Johnson, who lives in the three-story apartment building, said he was asleep and didn’t hear anything. When he saw a local TV news report on his phone that there was a stabbing in Pasadena, he thought it happened somewhere else in the city.

“It’s a very safe area. I was very shocked,” Johnson said.

Friends of Bressler were also shocked to hear about the incident. Richard Siracuse, of Riverside, said Bressler had “a good heart,” was passionate about cooking for people and loved music.

Bressler’s Facebook page shows he attended many rock shows and festivals. He posted a video from a Steve Winwood concert at the Forum on Saturday.

“It’s so unlike his character to be involved in any kind of confrontation with anyone. He was like a hippy kind of guy,” Siracuse said. “I’m just amazed that this even happened.”