Marvin Reiner, 97, left behind a legacy of joy and an amazing example of how to live a full life, when he died May 28.
Born and raised in Aberdeen, Marv graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1941, served in the Navy during World War II, graduated from the University of Washington and earned a MBA at the University of Chicago.
Marv and his wife Mary-Lynne were married for 70 years.
They met in Seattle and moved to Raymond and then Aberdeen where he joined his father Ed Reiner’s business and then owned Reiner’s Sporting Goods & Honda for 60 years. The store was moved to Olympia about 25 years ago, where their son Jeff runs it today as South Sound Honda.
Marv and Mary-Lynne lived in Olympia for over 40 years before retiring to Dupont four years ago. In his retirement, he operated Black Lake Christmas Trees in Olympia’s Delphi Valley.
As a successful merchant, he contributed to the communities around him with sponsorships and donations to teams, events and charities. He was always willing to give a hand up to those in need. He helped build Temple Beth Israel in Aberdeen and Temple Beth Hatfiloh in Olympia, as well as Camp Solomon Schechter in Tumwater, Camp Bishop in Elma and Camp Seabeck on Hood Canal. Family camps, where all ages came together, were a particular favorite, and through the years the Reiners went to them all.
Marv was an active member of many civic groups in Aberdeen and then Olympia, where they moved in 1978. He served as president of the Aberdeen Rotary Club and Temple Beth Israel, and was a member of the Elks Club, Masonic Temple and Olympia Rotary Club. He hiked for decades with outdoor clubs in Grays Harbor and Olympia..
A private family funeral was held. A celebration of life is planned for later this summer.
Marv is survived by his wife Mary-Lynne, brother Rabbi Robert Reiner; his four children: Cathy Reiner Godwin (Cliff), Cynthia Reiner Spencer (Ken Phillipson), Wendy Reiner (the late Linda Bonnell) and Jeff Reiner (Susanne White), 12 grandchildren, five bonus grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and five bonus great-grandchildren.
