Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Calls outside of office hours? No worries! Our team will respond within 10–15 minutes.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, August 31, 2015 from 5-9 PM.
A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at Wayne Christian Assembly, 60 Smith Lane, Wayne. Please meet directly at the church. Interment will follow at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa.
With his loved ones gathered round, Lenard “Lenny” E. Rink, age 51, of Hamburg and formerly of Wayne, passed peacefully from this life into God’s loving, eternal presence, on Friday, August 28, 2015.
A long-time resident of Wayne, Lenny graduated from Wayne Valley High School in 1982 and had been living in Hamburg since 1998.
From the time he was a little boy, Lenny showed an enthusiastic interest in cars. He purchased his first car, a VW Bug at 14! His crown jewel, a 1965 Chevy Impala SS, joined his collection at age 16 and remains in the garage today. Over the next 35 years, he had many others including a Chevy Corvair, Monte Carlos, El Caminos, Firebirds and Silverados (notice the theme – General Motors cars). He even had an AMC Rambler Classic during his high school years. In all, Lenny bought and sold well over a hundred cars in his lifetime, and he still owned about a dozen. He started doing engine repairs when he was a teenager and while most people hang tire swings, bird feeders and Christmas lights from their tree branches, in the Rink’s yard, it was chains to pull engines that hung from the trees. While that was years ago, there are still ruts in the tree bark from the weight of those engines. He quickly became a master auto mechanic who was so gifted, his father said that Lenny could change a Volkswagen engine in just two hours.
Lenny also loved to go fishing! Sometimes he’d just call his dad up and say “come on Dad, we’re goin fishin!” His dad would go over to Lenny’s house which, at the time, happened to be right on the banks of the Passaic River. It was in the flood section of Wayne and, Lenny always referred to this as “living down on the bayou.” Lenny was a little carefree and crazy back then. Just for fun, he and his friends would sink each other’s boats. This proved to be no problem for Lenny though. He was really good at fixing things, and he’d say, "I’ll just MacGyver it!”
It’s no wonder that after high school, Len embarked on a career as an auto mechanic. He worked initially in the Service Department of the Willowbrook Mall Sears and later for other auto and small engine repair businesses. Probably inspired by his mother Shirley, a school teacher, Lenny ultimately developed a desire to enter the field of education also. While continuing to work full time, he earned his teaching degree and certification from Kean University and went on to teach industrial arts classes in the Cedar Grove and Newark public school systems. In 1998, Lenny found his dream job in the position of auto shop teacher at the Wallkill Valley Regional High School in Hardyston. It was fun and fulfilling to teach young people how to fix automobiles, and he enjoyed sharing his knowledge and experience with them. He often let them work on his cars, towing them into the shop with a tow truck he owned and affectionately called Beulah. He also worked with the students to build demolition derby cars which he drove at the Sussex County Fair. While there was no disputing that Lenny was a well-qualified and excellent auto shop teacher, he was just as concerned about preparing his students for life’s responsibilities. He would regularly remind them that “there are no free rides in life!” You could say that Lenny was just as much about teaching values and integrity as he was about teaching kids how to clean a carburetor.
In 1995, Lenny’s life changed forever when he was diagnosed with Leukemia. Several courses of chemotherapy, radiation, and trips to Seattle for a bone marrow transplant and leukocyte infusion from his sister, Lisa, eventually resulted in remission. While the remission lasted over 19 years, the treatments also produced chronic side effects. There were plenty of days when Lenny experienced a lot of pain and discomfort but, motivated by the desire to make a difference in a young person’s life, he set aside his own needs and went to work. In all, Lenny worked fifteen years until his illness forced him to retire in 2013.
Lenny was the product of a great up-bringing by his loving parents Edmund and Shirley Rink. It was his parents that taught him about Jesus’ love and grace. His grandpa, Russ Skaling, who was a missionary and one of Lenny’s best friends and mentors, had a very positive influence too. They shared a special bond and Lenny would often seek Grandpa's advice when he faced life’s challenges. Grandpa and Lenny spent many long hours working on car and other improvement projects together and sharing thoughts about God's goodness. Lenny attended Wayne Christian Assembly where he grew in his faith and trust in God. It was this faith that defined who Len was, not the leukemia related issues that warred against his body. His faith also pushed him to encourage others he knew who were experiencing illnesses or tough times of their own. Many people found the inspiration to press on because of the uplifting letters that Lenny sent.
Lenny will be remembered for his kind heart, his never ending encouragement, and his ability to find the good in all situations. Many have benefited from Len's mentoring and support over the years. He will be greatly missed.
Surviving are his parents: Edmund and Shirley Rink of Wayne; his sister Lisa and husband Glenn MacMoyle of Blairstown, and his former wife Sandy Leo of Hamburg.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Lenny’s name are asked to consider a memorial gift to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., PO Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109
(http://www.fredhutch.org/en/ways-to-give/honor-memorial/honor-memorial-gifts-cards.html), or Wayne Christian Assembly Youth Programs.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, August 31, 2015 from 5-9 PM.
A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at Wayne Christian Assembly, 60 Smith Lane, Wayne. Please meet directly at the church. Interment will follow at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, August 31, 2015 from 5-9 PM.
A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at Wayne Christian Assembly, 60 Smith Lane, Wayne. Please meet directly at the church. Interment will follow at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa.
With his loved ones gathered round, Lenard “Lenny” E. Rink, age 51, of Hamburg and formerly of Wayne, passed peacefully from this life into God’s loving, eternal presence, on Friday, August 28, 2015.
A long-time resident of Wayne, Lenny graduated from Wayne Valley High School in 1982 and had been living in Hamburg since 1998.
From the time he was a little boy, Lenny showed an enthusiastic interest in cars. He purchased his first car, a VW Bug at 14! His crown jewel, a 1965 Chevy Impala SS, joined his collection at age 16 and remains in the garage today. Over the next 35 years, he had many others including a Chevy Corvair, Monte Carlos, El Caminos, Firebirds and Silverados (notice the theme – General Motors cars). He even had an AMC Rambler Classic during his high school years. In all, Lenny bought and sold well over a hundred cars in his lifetime, and he still owned about a dozen. He started doing engine repairs when he was a teenager and while most people hang tire swings, bird feeders and Christmas lights from their tree branches, in the Rink’s yard, it was chains to pull engines that hung from the trees. While that was years ago, there are still ruts in the tree bark from the weight of those engines. He quickly became a master auto mechanic who was so gifted, his father said that Lenny could change a Volkswagen engine in just two hours.
Lenny also loved to go fishing! Sometimes he’d just call his dad up and say “come on Dad, we’re goin fishin!” His dad would go over to Lenny’s house which, at the time, happened to be right on the banks of the Passaic River. It was in the flood section of Wayne and, Lenny always referred to this as “living down on the bayou.” Lenny was a little carefree and crazy back then. Just for fun, he and his friends would sink each other’s boats. This proved to be no problem for Lenny though. He was really good at fixing things, and he’d say, "I’ll just MacGyver it!”
It’s no wonder that after high school, Len embarked on a career as an auto mechanic. He worked initially in the Service Department of the Willowbrook Mall Sears and later for other auto and small engine repair businesses. Probably inspired by his mother Shirley, a school teacher, Lenny ultimately developed a desire to enter the field of education also. While continuing to work full time, he earned his teaching degree and certification from Kean University and went on to teach industrial arts classes in the Cedar Grove and Newark public school systems. In 1998, Lenny found his dream job in the position of auto shop teacher at the Wallkill Valley Regional High School in Hardyston. It was fun and fulfilling to teach young people how to fix automobiles, and he enjoyed sharing his knowledge and experience with them. He often let them work on his cars, towing them into the shop with a tow truck he owned and affectionately called Beulah. He also worked with the students to build demolition derby cars which he drove at the Sussex County Fair. While there was no disputing that Lenny was a well-qualified and excellent auto shop teacher, he was just as concerned about preparing his students for life’s responsibilities. He would regularly remind them that “there are no free rides in life!” You could say that Lenny was just as much about teaching values and integrity as he was about teaching kids how to clean a carburetor.
In 1995, Lenny’s life changed forever when he was diagnosed with Leukemia. Several courses of chemotherapy, radiation, and trips to Seattle for a bone marrow transplant and leukocyte infusion from his sister, Lisa, eventually resulted in remission. While the remission lasted over 19 years, the treatments also produced chronic side effects. There were plenty of days when Lenny experienced a lot of pain and discomfort but, motivated by the desire to make a difference in a young person’s life, he set aside his own needs and went to work. In all, Lenny worked fifteen years until his illness forced him to retire in 2013.
Lenny was the product of a great up-bringing by his loving parents Edmund and Shirley Rink. It was his parents that taught him about Jesus’ love and grace. His grandpa, Russ Skaling, who was a missionary and one of Lenny’s best friends and mentors, had a very positive influence too. They shared a special bond and Lenny would often seek Grandpa's advice when he faced life’s challenges. Grandpa and Lenny spent many long hours working on car and other improvement projects together and sharing thoughts about God's goodness. Lenny attended Wayne Christian Assembly where he grew in his faith and trust in God. It was this faith that defined who Len was, not the leukemia related issues that warred against his body. His faith also pushed him to encourage others he knew who were experiencing illnesses or tough times of their own. Many people found the inspiration to press on because of the uplifting letters that Lenny sent.
Lenny will be remembered for his kind heart, his never ending encouragement, and his ability to find the good in all situations. Many have benefited from Len's mentoring and support over the years. He will be greatly missed.
Surviving are his parents: Edmund and Shirley Rink of Wayne; his sister Lisa and husband Glenn MacMoyle of Blairstown, and his former wife Sandy Leo of Hamburg.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Lenny’s name are asked to consider a memorial gift to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., PO Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109
(http://www.fredhutch.org/en/ways-to-give/honor-memorial/honor-memorial-gifts-cards.html), or Wayne Christian Assembly Youth Programs.
Guestbook