Bernard C. Rink
Died Nov. 29, 2018
LAKE LEELANAU -- Leelanau County wine pioneer Bernie Rink,
died Nov. 29, 2018, surrounded by family and friends. He was 92.
According
to the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail, “Leelanau’s wine industry ignited in 1970
when Bernie Rink planted 15 acres of grapevines and opened Boskydel Vineyard,
Leelanau’s first tasting room.”
On
July 7, 2018, Rink was honored by a Boskydel Tribute, a collaboration between
Good Harbor Vineyards, Mawby Vineyards
and Winery and Bel Lago Vineyards, each of whom crafted a tribute wine from
Boskydel grapes. According to MyNorth
News Service, “Rink, who closed Boskydel Vineyard last year at the age of
91, was the first in Northern Michigan to grow commercial wine grapes and
Leelanau Peninsula’s first bonded winery. Rink planted his vineyard in 1964 and opened
Boskydel tasting room in 1976.”
In
addition to his pioneer work in the wine industry, Rink, with generous help
from Gene Power and Will Munnecke, was instrumental in bringing Inuit art to
northern Michigan. In his role as
library director at Northwestern Michigan College, a post he held for 30 years,
Rink conducted an annual Inuit Art Sale, beginning in 1960. The proceeds from the sale were used to fund
purchases of Inuit art for the permanent Inuit art gallery, which exists today
at the Dennos Museum on campus.
Rink
was born in Avon, Ohio in 1926. He attended John Carroll University and Case
Western University, where he obtained a master’s degree in Library Science.
Surviving
are his children Jim (Karen) Rink, David (Sandi) Rink, Tom Rink, Chris (Sue)
Rink and Andy (Myra-Oliver) Rink; six grandchildren, Beth, Paul, Jake, Matt,
Tim and Katie; sister Dorothy Grant, brother Ted (Marita) Rink and many nieces
and nephews.
He
was predeceased by his wife Suzanne and brother Carl Rink, brother-in-law Jim
Grant and sister-in-law Rita Rink.
Visitation
will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7 with the Rosary to be prayed at
7 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay. The mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday,
Dec. 8 with the family greeting friends at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church of Lake
Leelanau. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery
will be held in the Spring. Father Bryan
Medlin will serve as celebrant.
Memorials
may be directed to Carmelite Monastery, 3501 Silver Lake Road, Traverse City,
MI 49684-8949 and/or St. Mary’s Church, PO Box 340, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653
Condolences may be shared
with the Rink family below or at our funeral home Facebook page:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Rink, Beth and Paul,
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear of your father and grandfather's passing. One of my jobs at NMC is the literary adviser to the NMC Magazine, and during our Memento issue I researched the college and its rich history. In doing so, I discovered that as the head librarian, Bernie Rink, would hand notes to especially noisy students telling them to, rather politely, leave the library or quiet down. He sounds like quite the personality!
Thinking of you all as you celebrate his life!
My best,
Alissia Lingaur (nee Riling)
Dear Andy and Myra Jim and Karen and the rest of the Rink family,
ReplyDeleteJudy and I send our deepest sympathies and condolences to all of you. Judy and I began staying in your area in 1976 and discovered Boskydel and Bernie circa 1983 and have visited yearly since.
I recall spending many winter afternoons with Bernie. Just he and I and my dog Ginger discussing religion, politics et al over a de Chaunac and the warmth of the geodesic SP? stove.
Our dinners with him and Suzanne at Fischers Happy Hour were great too.
Thanks Bernie for the intelligent talks and wonderful life lessons over the years.
RIP my friend, Treasure the memories guys!
Bernie Rink, Boskydel and Northern Lower Michigan...you can check out but never leave,
Pete and Judy Ward Kitchener Ontario Canada