Pioneers find friendship through bowling
For most senior citizens, a bowling alley would not be the first place to look for a post-retirement activity. The men of the Dutchess County Pioneers league at Spins Bowl of Poughkeepsie have a unique way to “keep the ball rolling” in their spare time.
Formed over 50 years ago, the Pioneers meet on Wednesday afternoons to enjoy each other’s company and knock down some pins. “It keeps the old-timers active and keeps them involved,” league vice president Bob Cribley said.
President John Nilsson joined over 12 years ago and relies on word of mouth to recruit bowlers for the 10-team league. “A lot of us belong to the American Legion or VFW, so we try to recruit friends that need something to do,” he said.
A Poughkeepsie native, Nilsson has lived and worked in the city for his entire life. He was a longtime employee of James Burn International, a bookbinding company that was acquired by Spiral Binding Company in 2007.
Right around his retirement, James Burn introduced robotic equipment that took over for much of the work he did there. Now, Nilsson leads the Pioneers in scoring average at 178 per game, which he pointed out, “is 10 pins less than last year.”
Cribley remembered the days of his childhood bowling at Spins. “This place used to be a 52-lane house and you would have to wait in line to get in,” he recalled.
After retiring, he returned to bowling regularly and has enjoyed every minute. “I make friends here and bring in guys sitting around at home, especially during the winter time,” Cribley said.
Although the minimum age for the league is 65, more than half of the members are over 80. But for 94-year-old John Morabito, age is just a number.
“I come here every week to see some great friends and get out of the house,” Morabito said. Currently treasurer of the league, he has been bowling with the Pioneers for over 25 years and remembers when the league saw its inception. He may not bowl too many strikes nowadays, but the friends he has made through the league mean much more to him than a high-score.
“That’s what it’s all about,” he said with a smile. “Seeing all my friends.”
Bringing everyone together continues to be a goal for the league. Each year, Thanksgiving and Christmas banquets are hosted when families come together to celebrate the holidays. Maybe the spirit of competition is not as high as it once was for the Dutchess County Pioneers, but the camaraderie is what keeps them playing each week.
“At our age, it’s just getting out, doing something and having fun. Competition is for the better bowlers, not for the seniors like us,” Nilsson said.
