Morris Cramer

Morris Cramer COHOES - Morris Cramer (Moe) 87, passed away peacefully on Tuesday evening May 21, 2013 at his home. He was born October 26, 1925 in Cohoes where he resided for the majority of his lifetime. Morris was a veteran of World War II, having served on the Army Air force from 1943 thru 1945 as a 2nd Lt. Navigator-Operations. He attended navigation school in Hondo, Texas. Upon returning form the service, Morris attended RPI in Troy for 2 years, but found that his calling was bowling. He was a central figure in area bowling from the 1940s thru the 1970s, and he left his mark as an outstanding bowler, proprietor, pro-shop operator, instructor, tournament administrator and most of all as an innovator. He was also known as a ball-drilling genius. In 1958 Morris founded what is now the PBA (Professional Bowling Association). Morris was the first tournament director. He opened Cohoes Bowling Arena in 1948, Tri-City Lanes in 1958, Troy Bowl (Uncle Sam Lanes) in 1960 and the Bowler's Club in 1962. He also opened centers in Pittsfield and Springfield, Mass. He ran the Capital Bowling Show on local channel 13. The show ran for 35 weeks and would average over 1,000 entrants per week. Morris was inducted into the Albany Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1962, the Troy Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1985 and the New York Bowling Association in 1990. In addition to Bowling Morris' passions included golf, he was the 1950 club champion at Shaker Ridge Country Club; horse racing, where he was regularly seen at the Albany OTB tele-theater or at Saratoga in hiss lawn chair by the paddock with his handicapping papers and colored markers. Morris was also an avid bridge player and reached the prestigious level of Silver Life Master. He played in games spanning the entire Capital District as well as local and regional tournaments. He is survived by his two children, Deborah Priester (Robert Wolbert) of Valley Falls and Janice Cramer of Longmont, CO, a brother Oscar (Joan) Cramer of Boyntown Beach, FL and a sister-in-law Beverly Cramer (Samuel Cramer) of Menands. He is the adored grandfather/PaPa of 5: Darrick Priester of Selkirk, Rebecca (Ian) Kay of Melrose, MA, Jamie, Brody and Eli Shelstad of Longmont, CO. He is also survived by nephew Robert Cramer and nieces Diane and Nancy Cramer. He is pre-deceased by brother Samuel Cramer. Family and friends are invited to attend a graveside service on Monday May 27, 2013 at 10:30 AM at the Beth Tephilah Cemetery on 1600 Western Ave Albany, NY. Immediately following the service the family would very much like everyone to visit them and share in “Shiva” celebration honoring Morris at Uncle Sam Lanes (Troy Bowl) 600 Fulton St., Troy. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Community Hospice of Rensselaer (295 Valley View Blvd., Rensselaer, NY 12144) in memory of Morris or donations can also be made to the Albany Jr. Bowling Association Scholarship Fund for an annual scholarship to be given to graduating junior bowlers in honor of Morris.