| Toni-Marie Baldinelli The Boston Globe is proud tonight to honor the memory of one of candlepin bowling's greatest ambassadors with the fourth annual Stasia Czernicki Memorial Award. We recognize the brilliant contribution she made to the sport, not only as a competitor, but as a first-class human being. In victory or defeat, she was always first to offer her hand in a show of true sportsmanship. And it is this we wish to perpetuate with this award. The Boston Globe and the International Candlepin Bowling Association tonight salutes Toni-Marie Baldinelli as winner of the fourth annual Stasia Czernicki Memorial Award. The name Baldinelli is no stranger to the candlepin bowling world. Her father Tony, for many years with his brother Fernando, owned Baldinelli's Bowlaway in Amesbury and in 1984 was inducted to the Hall of Fame in the same class with Marcelle Aiken, Dick Chaffee, Del Webber and Herb McBride. Her mother, Marge was World Candlepin Bowling Congress Rookie of the Year in 1978. Toni-Marie Baldinelli has been a dominant bowler for nearly 35 of her 41 years - first as a youth competitor and for the past 23 years on the World Candlepin Bowling Congress tour. She has 10 tour triumphs, one behind Stasia Czernicki, who leads the list with 11. Four times - first in 1981 and again in 1982, 1985 and 1986 - she was WCBC Bowler of the Year. Only Stasia Czernicki - in 1974, 1976, 1977 and 1979 - has won that honor as many times. Four times, too, Toni-Marie has served as WCBC President. Her work with children, who hold the future of the candlepin industry, is extensive, teaching and developing their bowling skills, while at the same time promoting and instilling in them a healthy sense of fair play. As 1996 winner of the Stasia Czernicki Memorial Award, Toni-Marie joins Dot Petty, Helen Sellew and Bette Pray as previous recipients. It's ironic that Stasia, Dot and Helen are Hall of Fame members and that Bette will be inducted tonight. They all were friends and competitors of Stasia and they all are fine ambassadors of the candlepin game. |
Amesbury, MA | 1996 |
| Dot Petty
In selecting Dot Petty of Portland, Maine to receive the Czernicki Memorial, we feel we have made an outstanding choice. Not only was Dot an exceptional competitor, but she, like Stasia, displayed a sense of personal charm both on and off the lanes throughout her career. And what a brilliant career it has been. From 1973 - 1976 she was world champion and in 1978 became the first women ever inducted into the Maine Hall of Fame. In 1967 she won the world singles and in 1972 was all events winner. On the WCBC Tour she was Pro Bowler of the Year in the 1977 -1978 and 1982 - 1983 seasons and won five tour championships. Her credentials, to say the least, are most impressive. In 1991, her career was honored with the induction into the International Candlepin Bowling Hall of Fame. |
Portland, ME | 1993 |
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Marianne Kelly She joins Dot Petty (1993), Helen Sellew (1994), Bette Pray (1995) and Toni Marie Baldinelli (1996) as winners of this prestigious award that honors the Grande Dame of candlepin bowling, who died January 17, 1993. The award recognizes a woman, one not only proficient in candlepin bowling, but one who exemplifies the graciousness, sportsmanship, and spirit of Stasia Czernicki. Marianne Kelly fits that role. For years, she was an outstanding bowler. In 1988, she set the Massachusetts Bowling Association all events record with 3265 in the grueling test that back then included singles, doubles, mixed doubles, mixed teams, and teams. That same year, she joined forces with Toni Marie Baldinelli, Mary Ligenza, Sharon Rawson, and Jackie Sterner, to set the MBA women’s team record with 1831. She competed on the World Candlepin Bowlers Congress tour from 1979-1996. During that time, she won events in 1994 and 1996. Both, coincidentally, were Stasia Czernicki Memorial Tournaments. She was co-chairperson of the WCBC’s 1999 "Salute to Don Gillis" and served on the committee to help defray the medical expenses of fellow bowler Tom Morgan. Currently, she is coach/treasurer of the Pilgrim Lanes International Candlepin Youth Bowling Association, treasurer of the WCBC, and a member of the ICBA Hall of Fame selection committee. She is also a certified candlepin bowling instructor. Marianne is married to Bob Kelly and they have two children, Cameron, 13 and Madison, 5. Marianne is Assistant Director of Finance for TNT Vacations in Boston. The ICBA is proud to honor Marianne Kelly with the Stasia Czernicki/I.C.Y.B.A. Memorial Award. |
Stoneham, MA |
2002 |
| Dottie Lawruk Dottie Lawruk relates that she started bowling in 1960 as a junior league competitor and new at the outset of her participation in the Candlepin world that she would remain in it for many years. Dottie became a very credible competitor through her years of active involvement in our sport, winning several titles along the way. In the 1980's in fact, Dottie was a member of three NHCBA State Championship Teams. Dottie paired with Lois Queen, Hall of Famer Gary Duffett and Bob Freel to win a State Mixed Doubles crown and with Lois Queen, Vi Biron, Penny Brady and Carol Moran to win a Ladies Team State title. Dottie was also a member of a Ladies NHCBA Record setting team; her entry out of the now defunct Gate City Bowl in Nashua, New Hampshire in the NHCBA State tournament set a tournament record score of 2979 for five strings, in winning another title for Dottie. Teammates here included Dottie, Penny Brady, Vi Biron, Lois Queen and Mary Ford. Finally, Dottie and her entourage captured a prestigious ICBA Ladies team title in the 1980's, pitted against several solid teams from Maine, Massachusetts, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Dottie bowled on the WCBC Ladies Pro Tour from 1981-1997. During this timeframe, Dottie won events in 1986 and 1989. Subsequent to her active involvement with the WCBC, Dottie stepped up to the plate as Hall of Famer Tony Czerncki's capable assistant when an injury ended her competitive bowling career. For the first two years, Dottie was Tony's "helper"; she must have been a good one, as she soon took over as WCBC Tournament Director upon Tony's retirement. Dottie has held this position for thirteen seasons and continues in this role today! She has also been a member of the WCBC Executive Board for nineteen seasons. Dotties service to Candlepin Bowling is not exclusive to the WCBC Pro Tour. She has also helped with the popular "Easter Classic 20 String Tournament" for the twenty years of its existence, as well as the Ladies 20 String Tournament out of Leda Lanes. Many assembled here tonight will recall that Dottie served as the score keeper on "Candlepin Stars and Strikes" for several years, as well as the Statistician on Hall of Fame Inductee Bob Fouracre's "Big Shot Bowling" program. Dottie is also a certified Candlepin Bowling Instructor. Married to John Lawruk for thirty-nine years, Dottie is the proud mother of two children, Deanna and Buddy. She also is grandmother to Christopher, John and Emily Rose. Congratulations Dottie on this wonderful honor which recognizes your many contributions to Candlepin Bowling in the spirit of it's namesake Stacia Czernicki.
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2008 |
| Bette Pray |
Hampton, NH | 1995 |
| Helen Sellew |
Natick, MA | 1994 |
| Irene Valcourt The selection of Irene Valcourt as the recipient of the prestigious Stasia Czernicki Memorial Award puts the frosting on the cake of a Candlepin Career that has spanned five decades and encompassed forty-four years. Irene graduated as Valedictorian of her Alvirne High School Senior Class and attended Keene State College. Regardless of her academic leanings, Irene met her husband Leon and education soon took a step backwards in deference to her burgeoning young family. When all was said and done, Irene and Leon had seven children, several of who share their parents love of Candlepin Bowling. Irene joined her first league in 1961 and still participates in league bowling today. While active in the professional ranks, Irene constructed a formidable resume. She had a high single of 168, a high triple of 411, a high five of 665 and a high ten game total of 1242. Her highest seasonal league average was 112. Even more impressive than the aforementioned statistics are Irene's seven New Hampshire State Championship Titles. She won six Scratch Titles, (at one juncture she won three in a row), and one Handicap Title as well. Irene and her husband Leon also won numerous Mixed Doubles Titles at Nashua's Leda Lanes during her competitive years. Irene bowled competitively against Stasia during her career; however it is the work she performed with Stasia, and thereafter, that has singled her out for this evenings honors. In 1970, Irene served with Stasia on the founding committee of the World Candlepin Bowler's Congress Pro Bowler's Tour. She attended countless meetings involving extensive traveling in an effort to launch this organization. Through her dedication at the WCBC'S outset, the group flourished and enjoyed several spectacular seasons in the years of her involvement, from 1970-1976. Not only did Irene participate actively on the tour; she helped run numerous shifts, without monetary compensation, and made herself available whenever her services were requested. In 1970 Irene and Leon opened Sunapee Street Lanes and in 1983
they opened Sunset Lanes; Irene remains a contributor to Candlepin Bowling
to this very day. Please join her husband Leon, and their seven children
Debbie, Rhonda, JoAnn, Dan, Larry Brenda and Dennis in congratulating Irene
on tonight's her well-earned and well-deserved award. |
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2005 |