Dear Brethren All,
The Most Worshipful Gary Arthur Henningsen, on Sunday evening, October 20, 2024, laid the working tools of life aside to commence labor in that house not made with hands eternal in the heavens.
A native of the borough of Brooklyn, NY, M.W. Gary Henningsen was born on December 13, 1938 the son of the Norwegian and German immigrants, Brother Arthur Henningsen, and Elsie Inselmann. He was educated in the New York City Public School System and graduated from Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn, NY in June 1956. At night, he pursued a degree in Liberal Arts at the College of Staten Island.
As a young man, M.W. Gary Henningsen became an active member of the Theodore Roosevelt Chapter of the Order of DeMolay. It was through his association with the Order of DeMolay that M.W. Gary Henningsen was introduced to his future wife and life partner, Ada Demarest, a member and Beloved Queen of the Colleen Chapter of the Organization of Triangle Girls.
Answering the call to serve his country, M.W. Gary Henningsen enlisted in the U.S. Navy and completed his tour of duty with an Honorable Discharge as a Second Class Petty Officer in 1959. Following his separation from military service, M.W. Gary Henningsen joined Ada in Holy Matrimony on December 18, 1960, which was blessed with four children, namely three sons: Gary Arthur Jr., Scott Allen, and Erik Andrew; and one daughter Lisa Ann. The children have since given the Henningsen Family eleven grandchildren.
M.W. Gary Henningsen was very proud of his children whereby all of them have followed in his footsteps becoming members in good standing of the Masonic Fraternity and his daughter a Past Beloved Queen of the Triangle Organization.
M.W. Gary Henningsen continued to enjoy a full and exciting Masonic career. He was Raised a Master Mason in Aurora Grata – Day Star Lodge No. 756 (n.k.a. 647) of the Third Kings District in Brooklyn, NY on May 25, 1960; and served as its Worshipful Master in 1966 and 1979. He affiliated with Norsemen Lodge No. 878 in 1985, where he served as the Worshipful Master in 1986 and served as Secretary from 1987-1989 and Treasurer from 1990-1992.
M.W. Gary Henningsen was recognized as a leader in 1981 by M.W. Bruce Widger, then Grand Master, who appointed him to the office of District Deputy Grand Master of the Third Kings District. This path moved M.W. Gary Henningsen toward the Grand Line when in 1988 he was appointed by M.W. Roswell T. Swits, then Grand Master, to serve as the Junior Grand Deacon.
In 1992, M.W. Gary Henningsen was elected to the office of Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York. During this tenure, M.W. Gary Henningsen took the helm of Grand Lodge, acting as Grand Master in April 1993 filling the vacancy when M.W. Sheldon K. Blank, then Grand Master, suddenly passed away. At the 212th Annual Communication, M.W. Gary Henningsen was elected by proclamation to the office of Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York.
As quoted in an interview with the reporter John DeSio of the Staten Island Advance, M.W. Gary Henningsen said, “When I was nominated, they decided that I did not need an election. The 1,200 delegates just started to clap. It was really an overwhelming experience… When my family heard the news of my election they were overjoyed. My whole family, especially Ada, my wife, has been very supportive through the years.”
Following the untimely demise in 1994 of then Grand Secretary M.W. Robert C. Singer, PGM, M.W. Gary Henningsen accepted, was elected and navigated our Grand Lodge through difficult waters filling the vacancy in the Grand Secretary's Office on May 2, 1995, an office he lovingly held until his retirement in May 2004.
On May 3, 1999, M.W. Gary Henningsen was the recipient of the highest award that the Grand Lodge can bestow upon any Mason, the Distinguished Achievement Medal, presented by then Grand Master Stewart C. McCloud, Sr.
In addition to his many Blue Symbolic Lodge activities, M.W. Gary Henningsen found camaraderie and brotherhood in various facets of Masonic life through both the York and Scottish Rites. Some of the many branches of Masonry that M.W. Gary Henningsen became an essential part were: Orient Chapter No. 138, Royal Arch Masons; Columbian Council No. 1, R & SM; New York Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar; Kismet and Damascus Shrines; the Royal Order of Jesters; the Tall Cedars of Lebanon; and the Valley of Rockville Centre Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, from which he was coroneted a 33rd Degree Member in 1994.
Within his Address as Grand Master, M.W. Gary Henningsen spoke of his vision for the Craft saying, "I have a vision of Freemasonry for the 21st Century. I see a Fraternity where all men, regardless of their race, religion or ethnic background, work together as equals in true Brotherhood for mankind to emulate. I see a Fraternity where all are educated in Masonry, know their Fraternity, are well-versed in it, and are proud to talk about it. I see a Fraternity so intertwined in community programs, that we will be a beacon for all to follow. That is my vision."
Professionally, M.W. Gary Henningsen carried on the family business as the proprietor of the Henningsen Florist, Inc., located on Eighth Avenue in Brooklyn. Dovetailing the Family Business together with Ada’s career as a Registered Nurse, procured a comfortable homestead for the family as well as providing a sound foundation to build educational opportunities for their children. Once the children were grown and starting families of the own, Gary and Ada transferred ownership of their florist business to their loyal and longstanding employees.
M.W. Gary Henningsen was always been a good man and Mason, as he was a good husband, father and grandfather. He was proud of his Viking heritage and maintained strong ties with the Scandinavian community, serving as the Grand Marshal at the Annual Scandinavian Day Parade and held active membership in the Fraternal Order of the Sons of Norway.
As taught by our Masonic Ritual to seek inspiration and guidance from the Holy Scripture, M.W. Gary Henningsen and Ada attended church regularly as active members of Christ Lutheran Church on Staten Island. M.W. Gary Henningsen held the office of Secretary of the Church Council and was the Head Coach for the Church’s Basketball Team.
As we bid farewell to our good friend and Brother Mason, let us remember his parting words: “My Brethren, there are no strangers in Masonry, only Friends!”
At the request of the Henningsen Family, a Memorial Service will be held at a later date to be announced. The funeral will be a private family event.
Cards and Expressions of Sympathy may be sent to:
Mrs.
Ada Henningsen & Family
96-C Glenwood Lane
Monroe Township, New Jersey 08831-3602
It is my order that this announcement be read at the next Regular Communication of all Lodges, and that their Altars are to be draped for a period of thirty days.
We can all say with certainty that our beloved Brother has heard the comforting words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Welcome thou into the joy of the Lord. Amen.”
With kind brotherly love, I remain,
Steven Adam Rubin
Grand Master