Henry Kreindler
October 25, 1950 – February 3, 2024
Peacefully, at Riverview Health Centre, Henry Kreindler passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was predeceased by his parents, Dov and Betty, and is mourned by his devoted wife Catherine, loving daughter Adi (David) and her mom Reena (Lloyd).
Henry was born in Haifa, Israel and arrived in Canada at age ten. By high school, he was building speaker cabinets in his dad’s basement, part of a lifelong passion for music and audio. Inspired by the Beatles and other bands of the British Invasion, he was in several high school-age bands, none of which lasted more than a few months. He would later manage the band Sally Screw and the Drivers. After graduating from St. John’s High School, he studied electronics at Red River College.
In the 1980s, Henry owned and managed Banquox Sound, one of the largest audio rental companies in Western Canada. A hub of the Winnipeg music scene for many years, Banquox provided services to artists and events ranging from Tina Turner to the Winnipeg Folk Festival. As a businessman, Henry was known for his integrity and uncompromising craftsmanship (producing the heaviest speaker boxes ever built) – but even more so for his big-heartedness and generosity. He gave unstintingly – whether in the form of a job to someone struggling to find work, extra time for a client to pay a bill, or mentorship to a young person learning the ropes. Wherever he went, he made friends and touched people’s lives in ways they would always remember.
Whatever life threw at him – a heart attack at 39, an unsuccessful triple bypass surgery, a fire that destroyed his house (and a subsequent battle with the insurance company, which he won) – Henry fought through it with tenacity, never languishing in self-pity. Throughout his life, he loved learning and embraced new challenges. In midlife, he retrained as an accountant and worked for diverse organizations. He also continued to find new ways to engage with music, running an audio-restoration side business, co-founding the digital Manitoba Music Museum, becoming the Scottish Pavilion’s sound engineer, and best of all, recording family and friends in his lovingly designed home studio. Some of his most treasured times were the countless hours spent working with Adi on albums and shows since her teens.
Another creative outlet was Henry’s longstanding hobby of photography. He built a state-of-the-art darkroom in his basement. His subjects included musicians and singers who performed in Manitoba, including Three Dog Night, Marie Osmond and Earth, Wind and Fire. In his later years he loved to photograph the buildings of Winnipeg and create unique digital artwork.
Henry spent the best years of his life with Catherine, whom he married in 2013. Naturally, music played a role in their courtship: he first expressed his feelings by sending her the song “Beautiful Lady.” They spent many happy hours attending concerts and performances, especially by local musicians. They rebuilt the house together after the fire.
Henry was genuine, unselfish, hardworking, reliable, honest, fair, and principled, a dedicated husband and father and a true friend. He will be sadly missed and in our hearts always.
In accordance with Henry’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. A celebration of life may be held at a later date. Among the charities Henry supported are: The Kinsmen Reh-Fit Centre, Darcy’s ARC (a no-kill animal shelter), CancerCare, and the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre. In lieu of flowers, donations to these charities would be appreciated. Thanks to all the doctors and nurses who cared for Henry over the years, especially Dr. Green and Dr. Rittberg of CancerCare and all the staff at Riverview.
Henry's family kindly requests that all of his friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour his memory by watching the photo-biography above. Please, also consider sharing your own photos, memories, and stories by making use of the comment section on this page.
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