Henry Joseph Reiner passed away peacefully on January 31, 2026, at the age of 92.

Henry was born on May 31, 1933, in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. As a young child, he returned with his family to Nürnberg, Germany, where they endured the hardships of the Second World War. Those early years shaped Henry’s resilience, independence, and lifelong curiosity about the world.

In his early twenties, Henry set sail for Canada, eventually settling in Toronto’s Beaches neighbourhood. A place that would remain home for the rest of his life. After briefly deciding that Canada was too cold, Henry headed south through the United States, making his way to California. There, he discovered two lifelong loves: the beach and beach volleyball. He adored California and might have stayed, had U.S. authorities not demanded that he enlist in the Korean War. Instead, Henry quietly made his way back to Canada, where he resumed his life by the lake.

This trip marked the beginning of a lifetime of sun-seeking travel. Wherever Henry went, he gravitated toward the water. He travelled widely throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, Myrtle Beach, and especially Florida, his favourite escape. In Florida, he was happiest riding a borrowed bike over a long bridge to a hidden beach chair, settling in for the day with a cold beer and the sun overhead.

Henry became a member of the Balmy Beach Club in the late 1950s and played a pivotal role in introducing and growing beach volleyball in Canada. He convinced the club to invest in equipment and helped establish what would become a lasting beach volleyball community. He is often referred to as the “Father of Beach Volleyball in Canada.”

Athletics were central to Henry’s life. In addition to volleyball, he was a highly accomplished swimmer, excelling in the butterfly stroke, and played water polo with great success. He also loved squash, skiing, cycling, and later in life, lawn bowling. Even into his late 80s, Henry could be seen riding along the lake, eventually swapping his two-wheeled bike for a three-wheeled one so he could keep going.

Henry was also a passionate sports fan, with a particular devotion to soccer and his beloved FC Nürnberg, whom he followed faithfully for decades.

In 1958, during a fire at the racetrack, Henry jumped a fence and helped save several horses. He was recognized for his bravery by Mayor Summerville and was offered a position with the Toronto Fire Department. Henry went on to serve the city for over 31 years as a firefighter, a role he took immense pride in.

Henry married Saundra Flauder in 1959, and together they had two sons, Shannon and Morgan. Later, he married Ziba Gvildys, and they had two more sons, Henry Jr. and Marcus.

Throughout his life, Henry was a constant presence in the Beaches neighbourhood. He was so well known that it was rare for him to go out without stopping to chat with neighbours, friends, and strangers alike. He was an iconic figure by the lake, on Queen Street, and at the club; always active, always engaged, always unmistakably Henry.

Henry was the patriarch of the Reiner family and will be deeply missed. He is survived by his four sons, Shannon, Morgan, Henry Jr., and Marcus; his daughters-in-law, Vanessa, Leslie, Rebecca, and Caitlin; and his grandchildren, Alex, Roxy, William, Sebastian, Norman, and Felix.

A fund has been set up for a memorial to be created in his honour. To donate please visit: https://gofund.me/60cb199f2