HENNING PETER BRASSO

(May 17, 1933 - May 16, 2025) Henning Peter Brasso died peacefully, on May 16th, in North Vancouver. Born in Calgary to Danish immigrants Peter and Else Brasso, Henning grew up in rural Bowness, Alberta. Life was tough during the Depression years - the family home had no electricity or running water - but Henning had fond memories playing hockey on frozen lakes, delivering newspapers on horseback, and of his Great Dane, Rex, who was the first of many beloved dogs. Henning enrolled in UBC and earned a Commerce degree. He was elected President of the Commerce Undergraduate Society and was a member of the Beta Theta Phi fraternity. After graduating in 1956 he partnered with his dad, opening Brasso's Car Supermarket in Burnaby. In 1960 he married Kam Byrne. They had three children while living in Vancouver and Calgary, settling in West Vancouver in 1966. Henning tried his hand at various business ventures including selling mobile homes and air raid shelters. In 1967 Henning set up a Datsun car dealership in Vancouver, the first Japanese car franchise in the city. He added four Brasso Datsun dealerships in Vancouver and Calgary (partnering with his brother Einar). For more than fifty years thereafter, he operated various car dealerships and other business ventures, culminating in a partnership with two of his closest friends which formed one of the largest Honda dealer groups in Canada. Henning held several prominent positions including Chairman of the BC Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization, the BC Automobile Dealers Association and the BC Children's Hospital Foundation Telethon. In 1996 he won the MacLean's magazine National Dealer of Excellence award and received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003 for his community service and contributions as a business leader. Henning was an avid tennis player, golfer and swimmer. He earned his small aircraft pilot's licence, played piano almost daily, and was a keen photographer, leaving an extensive catalogue of photos documenting the life of his family. Henning was happiest when he was with his family. They travelled around Europe in 1972 and visited his Danish relatives. Summers were spent boating on the coast while winter vacations were to Maui and Whistler. In 1990, Henning and Kam bought a cabin at Egmont where family and friends would gather for 25 years. Henning lost Kam when she died in 2008. He then married Fran Brinkley in 2010 and they enjoyed fifteen wonderful years together. Henning was predeceased by Kam; brother, Einar; sisters-in-law, Donna and Sheila; and brother- in-law, Don. He is survived by Fran; children, Christian, Peter (Jackie), and Lisa; grandchildren, Tabitha, Charlotte, Matthew, and Julia; nieces, Celia, Krissy and Alison; brother-in-law, Terry; and Fran's children and grandchildren, Kristy and Stephen (Khamphiou), Kelly, Sam, Jack, Kate, and Grace. We are deeply grateful to Henning's caregiver, Christian, who was a cherished companion to Henning for the past two years, and to the staff at Sunrise Lonsdale Square, who took such good care of Henning in his final months. A memorial service will be held at the West Vancouver United Church on Tuesday, June 17th at 2 p.m., with a reception to follow.