Grosse Pointe News

Sean Cotton, Owner • Anne Gryzenia, Publisher • Jody McVeigh, Editor In Chief • Meg Leonard, Senior Editor

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Roland John RinkeFree Access


Roland John Rinke

Grosse Pointe Farms resident Roland John Rinke died peacefully Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, at home with his family by his side. He was 95.

The oldest of six children, Roland was born Sept. 14, 1925, in Center Line, to Norbert and Ceceila (nee Buechel) Rinke. He was a proud American and member of the Greatest Generation — hardworking and reliable, a strong Catholic, a good businessman and loving husband and father. An engaging conversationalist with a quick wit and a twinkle in his eyes, Roland saw humor in most any situation and loved to make others laugh.

Born just before the Great Depression, Roland’s formative years were marked by frugality and responsibility. During his years at De La Salle Collegiate High School, he worked evenings and weekends at his family’s automotive dealership.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at age 17. He was deployed to the Pacific Theater, where he saw active duty in New Guinea, Okinawa, Guam and the Philippines. He arrived in Tokyo three days after Japan surrendered and spent a year at Tachikawa Air Base with the Allied Occupation Forces.

Roland returned to the U.S. and his father’s business in 1946. He used the GI Bill to earn a college degree at the University of Detroit. In addition to managing the auto dealerships, he served as a Center Line city councilman from 1954 to 1957. During that time, the Rinke family represented every division of General Motors Co.

Roland designed and constructed his new Pontiac dealership at the corner of 11 Mile Road and Van Dyke in 1966; soon after, he became president of the Detroit Area Pontiac Dealers Association. A charter member of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, the most respected dealer association in the country, Roland was named its president in 1969. He was presented with “Time” magazine’s Quality Dealer Award in 1970, and served as chairman of the Detroit Auto Show in 1977.

Philanthropy and community were important to Roland; he assumed leadership roles at many organizations. An active member and president of the Men’s Guild at St. John Hospital, he also served as a trustee many years and as a McQuade Society member after the hospital was acquired by Ascension Health. During the same years, Roland gave back to his high school alma mater by fundraising and offering scholarships to new students. His key contribution to De La Salle —the establishment of a Christian Brothers Dinner — was made in collaboration with his brother, Roger, and grew from 100 to more than 1,000 attendees within a few years; it remains De La Salle’s largest fundraiser.

Roland was an active parishioner and contributor at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church.

His affiliations included the Crisis Club, Solanus Casey Center, St. Bonaventure Capuchin Monastery and The Holley Institute. He also was a member of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Detroit Yacht Club, The Old Club and PGA National Golf Club.

Roland treasured his wife and family more than anything. He was introduced to his wife, Janice Skillman, by his best friend and brother, Roger, in 1952. Roland and Janice were married a year later; they celebrated 68 years of marriage in June.

Roland is survived by his wife, Janice; children, Elizabeth Eugenio (Don) and Kevin Rinke (Janine); grandchildren, Nicholas (Blair), Kristin, Morgan, Amanda, Grant and Katie; and siblings, Joseph Rinke and Anne Gilleran. He was predeceased by his son, Michael.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Michael David Rinke Excellence in Nursing Fund, Ascension St. John Hospital Foundation, 19251 Mack Ave., Suite 102, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236; or the Solanus Casey Center, solanuscenter.org/ways-to-help/donations; or St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, 157 Lakeshore Rd., Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236, or stpaulonthelake.org/give.