Erie's Buddy Malone remembered for influence on family, friends, bowling community
While Christmas Eve is generally a day of joy, it was a sad one for the local bowing community this year after learning of the death of one of Erie's all-time greats, Anthony “Buddy” Malone.
Malone died at his residence at Sarah Reed Senior Living on Dec. 24 at age 96.
“Buddy’s passing is a loss of a local legend, without a doubt,” said Dave Hewett, longtime coordinator of the Times-News Open Bowling Tournament. “In addition to his extensive honors and accomplishments, he helped start the Times-News Open back in 1964, and we wouldn’t have it today had it not been for him.”
Malone, the former owner of Eastland Bowl, was an inductee in the Pennsylvania United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (1989), Erie District Bowling Association Hall of Fame (1975), the Metro Erie Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (1986), and the National Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame. He was the first person inducted into the EDBA Hall of Fame and the first bowler inducted into the Erie Chapter of the Pa. Sports Hall of Fame.
Obituary: Anthony Donald “Buddy” Malone
Longevity was the most impressive aspect of Malone’s outstanding accomplishments on the lanes. He bowled in a record 51 consecutive Times-News Opens, from 1964 to 2014, and competed an incredible 68 times in the USBC Championships, most recently at age 92. He also competed in dozens of state tournaments, and led his team to the team title in 1973.
In the Times-News Open, Malone achieved an average of 192.29 in 760 games over his 51 tournaments. In addition, he won many EDBA titles, including numerous team championships and tournament titles.
“He was one of the best bowlers ever in Erie, back in the days when 300s and 700s were rare,” local bowler Stan Kendzior said about Malone on the Times-News Open Facebook page.
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'We are just heartbroken'
Malone often bowled with his son, Pat Malone, winner of five T-N Open championships in five consecutive decades, who died on Sept. 27, 2021, at age 68. Together they own numerous T-N Open records, including bowling three times as father-son combination in the finals in the same year (1979, ’82, ’86). Together, they reached the finals 38 times between them, 31 by Pat and seven by Buddy.
Pat Malone’s son and Buddy’s grandson, Keith Malone, is also a regular participant in the Times-News Open, and is presenter of the Buddy Malone Spirit Award for those bowlers who have participated in 40 or more T-N Opens.
“Grandpa’s success and accomplishments as a kegler, an athlete and an entrepreneur are eclipsed only by his dedication to his family and his contributions to the bowling community,” Keith Malone said. “He will be sorely missed by his family and those who knew him, but his legacy will be remembered in the thunder of strikes at bowling centers throughout the city and country.”
In addition to losing Buddy and Pat Malone, the Malone family lost Buddy’s wife of 74 years, Constance “Tina” Malone, 92, on Feb. 23.
“We are just heartbroken,” Andrea Malone, Pat Malone’s widow, said. “We have lost Pat, Tina and Buddy all within a little over two years. Buddy was the kindest, and most generous man, and I am blessed and so grateful to call him my father-in-law.”
Hewett said that a tribute to Buddy Malone will take place at the Times-News Open, which commences on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 9 a.m. at Eastway Lanes.
“It will be a sad occasion,” Hewett said. “We’ll be doing something on that first day, and we already have a tribute on our Facebook page.”
Visitation is on Tuesday at Kloecker Funeral Home and Crematory, 2502 Sassafras Street, from 3-7 p.m., followed by a prayer service at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday. A funeral mass will take place at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 1617 Walnut Street, at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie PA bowling hall of famer Buddy Malone dies at 96
