October 2017 -
33
Tom Pisano Celebrates 100
And Bowls 4 Times A Week!
Reprinted from:
DemocratandChronicle.com
Tom Pisano, of Brighton, NY, bowls in four different
leagues each week at Empire Lanes in Webster. But
currently, he is not too happy with his game.
"I'm going downhill. Right now I am physically not fit
and my bowling has gone downhill," Pisano said Mon-
day.
Maybe so, but when you consider that Pisano turns
100 on Thursday, things could be worse.
The Rochester native who served six years in the
Army during the World War II era, was celebrated by
his family, teammates, fellow bowlers and members of
the Empire Lanes staff before the start of league play
Monday. Pisano was presented with a giant birthday
card signed by league members, cash and a gift certifi-
cate.
"The Lord has taken care of me," said Pisano, who
was surprised by the presence of his bride of 71 years,
Rose, his daughters Sharon and Corinne, along with
some of his grandchildren, who came to watch him
bowl.
Pisano, who attended both East and Franklin high
schools in Rochester, said he began with the sport in
1947 and has bowled steadily ever since.
"I started working at Genesee Brewery and they had a
team," Pisano said. "I decided I would try out with the
rest of them. So I started bowling. It is my exercise."
Pisano, who still drives ("definitely I drive, I'm not go-
ing to walk!") where he needs to go, has enjoyed
games as high as 298 and has rolled several series of
700 or more.
In 2011 at age 97, Pisano rolled a 697 series, with
games of 220, 289 and 188.
Until this past summer, he also was a regular golfer. "I
quit this year because my legs could not take it," Pis-
ano said.
On Monday, his Olde Knight teammates presented
Pisano with a mechanical unit that will allow him to tee
up a golf ball without bending over to do so. So golf
might be back on the horizon.
And optimism is something that helps keep Pisano on
the go. After all, how many folks do you know who still
purchase lottery tickets at 100 years old?
"I have known Tommy for two years now, and for him
to continue to be bowling the way he has been, for a
man of his age, he is an inspiration for all of us," said
Frank Harmon, the team captain for the Olde Knights.
"We all hope that we can be as healthy and happy as
that man is at that age."
Pisano's daughter, Sharon Janes, said her mother still
cooks each day for the couple, who have lived in their
Brighton home since the late 1950s. Rose makes a lot
of recipes with fresh fruits and vegetables, though Pis-
ano said whatever she cooks, he eats.
"I don't have any bacon and I don't eat eggs," he said.
"I have cereal and I have all the greens and everything
else."
Pisano worked was a service manager in auto repair
for many years, though Jane said retirement from that
profession did not slow him down.
"After he retired, he worked 20 years delivering medi-
cal supplies, dental supplies," she said.
Pisano is living proof that bowling can be a forever
sport.
"I have been in the bowling business for 47 years,"
said Pete MacCracken, who manages Empire Lanes. "I
have never really had a person that hit 100 in one of
my bowling centers. Tom has been bowling here for 19
years. He bowls four times a week and he's a great
example to many of the seniors who bowl with us. To-
day we have about 155 people. It's a great lifetime
sport. Bowling has been able to keep a lot of people
going on in life."
Tom Pisano and the Babe
There are many advantages to having lived 100
years.
For Brighton's Tom Pisano, one of the advantages is
having been able to see baseball's all-time best player,
Babe Ruth, hit a long home run in person.
The feat occurred in Rochester in 1925, a few months
before Pisano turned 12 years old.
"I love baseball," Pisano said. "I saw (Ruth) in Roch-
ester. I saw him hit a home run over center field at the
Bay Street ballpark. At that time I lived on Culver Road.
I ran alongside of him to the clubhouse. He went in and
I had to stay out!"
Pisano admits the Yankees were his favorite team
then, but not today.
"Now I am for, naturally, Rochester and whoever is in
Rochester. I am a Twins fan."
MARV SARGENT Leads
Fontana's Best
by Frank Weiler
FONTANA - LEE FITZGERALD'S Senior Handicap
Trio League is Fontana's best. Lee organized the
league about a half decade ago and has grown it to
forty teams. The league would be larger if Foothill
Lanes had more than forty lanes.
The league is Fontana's best because Lee recruited
the best bowlers in northern San Bernardino County to
compete in the steel city. The league is loaded with
PBA competitors and tournament champions.
The league's TOP FIVE men are:
1. Marv Sargent 240 (average)
2. P.J. Buckner 229
3. Dan Farnsworth 226
Mike Reynolds 226
5. Mark Neimann 221
Dan Farnsworth's perfect 300 is the high game to
date and P.J. Buckner's 736 is the high series.
The league's TOP FIVE Women are:
1. Kay Cook 209
2. Mary Robles 205
3. Rolann Karper 194
4. Lavonya Williams 181
5. Pacita Baker 178
Kay Cook's 255 is high game to date and Rolann
Karper's 689 is the high series.
So far scoring has stabilized this season with aver-
ages and scores comparable to last year. Last season
saw a majority of averages dip but bowlers have now
adjusted to the new lane conditions and are starting to
do better.
