Dear colleagues,
It is with regret I share that Bernie Rink, longtime NMC librarian, originator of our Inuit art collection and regional wine pioneer, died November 29, 2018. He was 92.
Perhaps best-known as the godfather of the region’s wine industry for founding Boskydel Vineyard in Leelanau County, Bernie was also NMC’s first full-time librarian and spent 30 years as director, from 1957-87. Beginning in the 1960s he led the college’s acquisition of Inuit art, now the signature collection at the Dennos Museum Center.
Radio station WNMC was also proud to have Bernie as its No. 1 donor. His cases of Boskydel wine were an incentive prized by underwriters.
In 1986, Bernie was awarded the college’s highest honor of NMC Fellow.
Arrangements are by the Martinson Funeral Home in Suttons Bay. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, with a funeral mass at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at St. Mary’s Church in Lake Leelanau. 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. The full obituary was published in Saturday’s Record-Eagle.
Sincerely,
Tim
President’s Office
1701 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI
Phone: (231) 995-1010