(no subject)
I suspect there may be a person or two on my FList who would want to know about this. We were friends for many years, but my ex kept up with him and I did not, except to follow his career and get occasional news from the ex. He's one of the people I could have gotten back in touch with after the highly emotional post-divorce period died down, but I never did. I wish I had. The death of his first wife, killed by a driver high on drugs and driving on an expired license, was traumatic, and I can still close my eyes and see the agony on his face as he wandered zombie-like through the funeral and its aftermath. Museum Replicas grew out of that, as he worked to find a way to make a living and take care of his two girls. He was always interesting and always opinionated, and I wish the best for his wife and family.
(From the obit his wife sent to the newspapers)
Julius Henry "Hank" Reinhardt, 73, a widely known authority on
medieval arms and armor, and an icon of Southern science fiction
fandom for over 50 years, died Tuesday morning at an Athens, GA,
hospital following complications of heart surgery.
Known widely as "Hank," he had written numerous articles on swords
and knives, and was in the process of writing a book on the history
and use of the sword at the time of his death. He produced two videos
with Paladin Press on the sword, and was a columnist for Blade
magazine on swords in the movies. He was a cofounder of the mail
order business Museum Replicas, Ltd. and a consultant to many sword
makers. Unlike many experts, Reinhardt insisted on actually making
and testing the weapons he wrote about, and through his various
activities he has been instrumental in increasing the popularity of
arms and armor in mainstream America.
Hank, born and raised in Atlanta, was a founder of the first Atlanta
science fiction club, ASFO, organized in 1950. Since then he has been
guest speaker and entertainer at numerous science fiction
conventions, where he staged panels on medieval arms and armor, plus
exhibitions of the fighting techniques of that era, most recently at
Dragoncon in Atlanta in September.
Reinhardt also founded units of the Society for Creative
Anachronism, a medieval re-enactment society, in Alabama, where he
lived for many years, Georgia, and Louisiana. He has received
numerous awards for activities in science fiction and for his work
with bladed weapons, most recently the Industry Achievement Award
given at the 2006 Blade Show in Atlanta. Hank will appear in the
Reclaiming the Blade documentary due for release in 2008.
A sword and knife buff from early teen age, Reinhardt received an
education in both during Army service in Europe in the 1950s,
visiting famous museums. Upon returning to the United States, he
worked at various jobs before meeting Bill Adams, founder and
president of Atlanta Cutlery. Together in the 1980s they launched
Museum Replicas Ltd., making accurate and battle-ready replicas of
medieval weapons, and selling them via mail order throughout the
world.
Reinhardt enlisted as a business contact Ewart Oakeshott, the head
curator of the Tower of London Armories. Oakeshott wrote the
authoritative book on European swords, and at the time Reinhardt was
the only outsider allowed to enter the Armories and make photographs
of its treasures. Because of these visits, Museum Replicas, Ltd. for
years made quality arms and armor.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Janet. He is survived by
wife Toni Weisskopf Reinhardt; two daughters, Dana Gallagher and
Cathy Reinhardt; grandchildren, Hannah and Owen Gallagher; and the
many, many friends he made throughout his life.
Services will be held Saturday 3 p.m. at Bernstein Funeral Home,
Athens, Georgia.
(From the obit his wife sent to the newspapers)
Julius Henry "Hank" Reinhardt, 73, a widely known authority on
medieval arms and armor, and an icon of Southern science fiction
fandom for over 50 years, died Tuesday morning at an Athens, GA,
hospital following complications of heart surgery.
Known widely as "Hank," he had written numerous articles on swords
and knives, and was in the process of writing a book on the history
and use of the sword at the time of his death. He produced two videos
with Paladin Press on the sword, and was a columnist for Blade
magazine on swords in the movies. He was a cofounder of the mail
order business Museum Replicas, Ltd. and a consultant to many sword
makers. Unlike many experts, Reinhardt insisted on actually making
and testing the weapons he wrote about, and through his various
activities he has been instrumental in increasing the popularity of
arms and armor in mainstream America.
Hank, born and raised in Atlanta, was a founder of the first Atlanta
science fiction club, ASFO, organized in 1950. Since then he has been
guest speaker and entertainer at numerous science fiction
conventions, where he staged panels on medieval arms and armor, plus
exhibitions of the fighting techniques of that era, most recently at
Dragoncon in Atlanta in September.
Reinhardt also founded units of the Society for Creative
Anachronism, a medieval re-enactment society, in Alabama, where he
lived for many years, Georgia, and Louisiana. He has received
numerous awards for activities in science fiction and for his work
with bladed weapons, most recently the Industry Achievement Award
given at the 2006 Blade Show in Atlanta. Hank will appear in the
Reclaiming the Blade documentary due for release in 2008.
A sword and knife buff from early teen age, Reinhardt received an
education in both during Army service in Europe in the 1950s,
visiting famous museums. Upon returning to the United States, he
worked at various jobs before meeting Bill Adams, founder and
president of Atlanta Cutlery. Together in the 1980s they launched
Museum Replicas Ltd., making accurate and battle-ready replicas of
medieval weapons, and selling them via mail order throughout the
world.
Reinhardt enlisted as a business contact Ewart Oakeshott, the head
curator of the Tower of London Armories. Oakeshott wrote the
authoritative book on European swords, and at the time Reinhardt was
the only outsider allowed to enter the Armories and make photographs
of its treasures. Because of these visits, Museum Replicas, Ltd. for
years made quality arms and armor.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Janet. He is survived by
wife Toni Weisskopf Reinhardt; two daughters, Dana Gallagher and
Cathy Reinhardt; grandchildren, Hannah and Owen Gallagher; and the
many, many friends he made throughout his life.
Services will be held Saturday 3 p.m. at Bernstein Funeral Home,
Athens, Georgia.