It is with deep love and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Henry ‘Hank’ Banas at the age of 94 peacefully in his sleep. Hank was the dearly beloved husband to the late Patricia Banas, father of Kevin, Pete, Kim, and his late son Mike, as well as a cherished grandfather to Ciara, Jordan, Aoife, Josh, Eoin, and Josie, and great grandfather to Ashton. Alongside his children, he also has a special place in the hearts of their partners Colette, Jerry, and Jennifer.

Hank was born in Montreal to Polish immigrant parents, and by his late teens he joined the Merchant Navy. While he started out as a deck hand, his fascination with the large diesel engines on the ships soon led him to working in repairs. By the end of the 1950s, he had traveled the world and had an infinite number of stories to tell.

He left sea life with a passion for mechanics that he continued to pursue; what started with an apprenticeship offered to him while he worked as a janitor for Balantines Heavy Machinery Co., eventually led to him becoming the first mechanic in Ontario to be certified in auto and diesel mechanics. From there It was a straight shot to becoming a master mechanic teaching at Centennial College.

Family life was also as important to him as his career was; despite taxing weekdays building a career and getting his education, he always made time to be a dad. Weekends were filled with family trips to High Park, The Toronto Islands, and the Bruce Trail just to name a few. As life went on, and his kids were having kids, he maintained that same enthusiasm for his grandkids. With his new title as Grandpa, Hank spent his time sharing his coveted homemade pickles with picky eaters, sitting through school plays, and taking his grandkids to the movies, swimming, and on countless camping trips.

Hank lived all chapters of his life to the fullest and it showed. He was complex, sharp, funny, and caring until his last breath. Wherever he went, he made a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to get to know him. Special thanks go out to all the people who cared for him in his final years; the staff at Bough Beeches Place, the nurses who came weekly to assist him with leg wrapping, and most of all Rita who he loved like family.