By Joe D’Amodio | damodio@siadvance.com
Staten Island Advance | Click here for the full story
Ray Laursen Sr., a fixture at Rab’s Country Lanes for decades and one of Staten Island’s most well-known keglers, passed away Wednesday night after a long illness. He was 72.
The news was confirmed by Rab’s proprietor Frank Wilkinson.
Laursen owned the pro and trophy shop at the Dongan Hills center, where he drilled bowling balls for thousands of Island keglers and also coached plenty of others. In addition, Laursen was a former volunteer coach for the Curtis and St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School bowling squads and organized many bowl-a-thons that have raised thousands of dollars for local causes.
“Ray, the heartbeat of Rab’s Country Lanes for decades, a pillar of our Staten Island bowling family, leaves behind a legacy of all he touched on and off the lanes,” said Wilkinson. “His laughter, love, and passion for life brought joy to all of us, leaving a memorable mark on all who knew him will certainly be missed.”
Laursen and his wife Nazareth (Philpott) Laursen were perhaps the top husband-and-wife duo on the Island. And many of Ray’s and Naz’s children — from their previous marriages — turned out to be big-time keglers on the Island circuit and beyond.
News of Laursen’s passing spread quickly across the Island on Facebook.
“The bowling community lost a legend today. RIP Ray Laursen. I owe so many of my accomplishments to you, due to your drilling expertise & patience with my stubbornness. You will be greatly missed! My heart goes out to the Laursen/Philpott families and the Rab’s Country Lanes family!”
News of Laursen’s passing spread quickly across the Island on Facebook.
“The bowling community lost a legend today. RIP Ray Laursen. I owe so many of my accomplishments to you, due to your drilling expertise & patience with my stubbornness. You will be greatly missed! My heart goes out to the Laursen/Philpott families and the Rab’s Country Lanes family!”
“I looked in the program and saw all the people that were honored before me and it was quite exciting and humbling,” said Laursen at the time. “The list was very (prestigious). There are a lot of people there that contributed through sports and outside of sports on the Island.”
The year before Laursen, a huge New York Mets fan, was presented with the Joe Ryan Memorial Award, which honors groups or individuals who have made significant contributions to Staten Island sports and the community over a period of time.
Staten Island Bowling Hall of Fame president John Eadicicco said he bowled with Laursen on the same team for 15 years and said he will be missed. He called Laursen a great advocate for the sport of bowling.