Marazzi –who served as the executive director of both the Bowling Proprietors Association of Greater Dayton and the Bowling Centers Association of Ohio – will be recognized posthumously for her close to three decades of dedication as the recipient of the BCAO’s Mike Hennessy Meritorious Service Award.
“Any honor they bestow on Patty is well deserved because she put her heart into her job,” Marazzi’s brother John Andrews said. “She was proud of what she did but, at the same time, humble about what she accomplished.”
Marazzi, who passed away in July 2017, came on board with the Bowling Proprietors Association of Ohio in 1990. She succeeded Hennessy as executive director of both the state and local associations in 1999.
“Mike was a real mentor to her, so I think this would mean a lot to her,” Andrews said.
Poelking Marian Lanes proprietor Mike Poelking agrees, but couldn’t help but smile at the prospect of Marazzi having to speak at an awards banquet.
“She would run fast and hard to get away,” he said. “But Mike (Hennessy) took her under his wing, so this is fitting.”
For close to two decades, Marazzi was a fervent voice for the bowling proprietors in the area and around the state – a leader in the industry. The Belmont High School graduate was instrumental in initiating high school bowling in Ohio. She planned seminars, meetings, conventions and trade shows for state members as well as recruited centers for membership. Marazzi kept an eye on legislative issues that could impact the bowling centers.
“We are in the top four in the country, as far as state organizations, and we owe much of that to Pat’s efforts,” Joe Poelking said. “She worked to make us a better association and to promote the sport of bowling in the state.”
Her loss has been felt both professionally and personally by many in the bowling community over the past year.
“She had a tough job – dealing with all these proprietors and all these personalities – but any time I had a question, she had an answer and, if she didn’t know, she found out,” Mike Poelking said. “Pat had this tough facade, but she was an extremely thoughtful person – always thinking of others – that’s what I miss most.”
Marazzi will be recognized at the at the BCAO annual convention in May.
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