Obituary

Henry Spencer

In Loving Memory of

Henry Spencer

of Edmonton

 

Henry "Hank" Spencer passed away gently and peacefully in his sleep after a short illness, early on the morning of April 18, 2022 at the University of Alberta Hospital.

He is survived by his loving wife of 75 years, Mary, daughter Susan, and sister Marge Clancy, as well as 13 nephews and nieces and many great- and great-great-nephews and nieces.

Henry is predeceased by his parents, Roy and Rita; and his sister, Ann Morrison.

Hank will be remembered for his many inventions and contributions to the engineering world, including one of the first square root keys for an electronic calculator and a more efficient diesel engine, but his real pioneering work was done in the early days of plastics formulation and fabrication. Many who went to public school in the Edmonton area in the 1960s will remember his "Tote-Tray" desk drawers, and anyone who had the pleasure of flying with Wardair was probably served food and drink on a tray designed and manufactured by him. But his real love was nature and trees in particular, and this shone through in his most successful invention, the "Rootrainer" -- a planter for growing trees destined for reforestation efforts, which continues to be used today in over 20 countries around the world.

Those who knew him well will also remember him for his love of a good song, his skill as a dancer, his evocative paintings, his taste for good food (and his regular experimental cooking efforts), and his wonderful, though often corny, sense of humour. He'll be much missed by us all. A celebration of Hank's life will be held at a later date.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Alberta Cancer Foundation or the Canadian War Museum.