Martin J. "Marty" Piraino

Marty was a great guy he always was upbeat and always had time for anyone and made you feel important a good friend of mine and my father

Marty Piraino was a true gentleman, and one great bowler! I'm sure he is missed by all who knew him. Rest in Peace Marty.

I just happened to see this on Marty. My dad was a close friend of his for most of his life. I enjoyed watching Marty and talking with him when I had the chance. I have not been back to Syr for a while but think of all the great folks I bowled with over the years. My condolences to Jay and all the family.

George LaRose
Tampa Florida

Marty, for several years we were your family away from home during your PBA years here in Beaverton, Oregon. We so enjoyed you and your family staying with us when you came through. Our thoughts and prayers to Mary Jean and Jay. You will be missed. Love the Manz family, Tom, Dee, Tami Marshall, and Debi White

Uncle Marty, we have so many fond memories of you. You always brought smiles and stories on your visits. And as Best Man for our parents' wedding, you already had a permanent place in our hearts. We're happy knowing you're back on the lanes, bowling with Denny and Lucy again.

Marty, it was a pleasure to have bowled with you in the American Heart Tournament in Herkimer Ny many years ago. God Bless Ralph Wellington Sr.

The Piraino Family:

Please accept my condolences on the loss of your beloved father, grand-father, brother and uncle.

Your sense and feelings of loss must be tremendous.

Fondly remember Marty and the South Side Lanes. Located on my 1st paper route. For the morning Syracuse Post-Standard (1958-59). Delivered the daily paper there each day. On Saturday afternoons, after paying my newspaper bill, I spent the afternoon there bowling and play the pinball machines. Just loved the place.

After a while, became friendly with everyone in the family. Marty, most especially. Marty let me sweep-up a bit, dispense bowling shoes, score sheets and assign open lanes to bowlers. For this, I was allowed to bowl up to 3 games. All happy memories.

May your period of bereavement and grief be, mercifully, short.

God bless you all.

As Marty is on his way to Heaven, I just want to say "Thank you" for all that you have given to the community in your accomplishments, knowledge and sincere caring for those you have taught. There could never be another "YOU"! And most of all for being a best friend to me for many, many years! I will always remember that look of pure joy on your face whenever we went for crab legs! It was priceless. I will miss our daily phone conversations and all of the laughs we shared. I also want to say to Jay that you have been an angel for taking care of Dad, you have devoted all of your time to make sure his needs were fulfilled and you did a great job and never complained! And to Michael , you gave your Grampa a very beautiful tribute this morning that touched many peoples hearts . So, until we meet again Marty...I love you

Jay and Family. So sorry for your loss. (Uncle) Marty will be so missed in syracuse. We have so many fond memories of him at fremont on Friday nights. Always made us laugh.Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. God bless all of you.

Dear Jay and Mary Jean,

My family and I are very sorry to hear of your father's passing. I know you both will miss him dearly. I will always remember all those years my father, Greg Griffo, and your father bowled together. They had some good times together. My mom and your mom were always there with them at all the tournments. Well they are all together now and are having a good time. We will miss Marty.

Sincerely,
Mary Anne (Griffo) McCarthy

Our heartfelt sympathy to Flora & family.
Carol Fanara & Tom Sauro

As a child in the early 1980s, I idolized Marty Pirano for his bowling talents. I wanted to be like him so I wore the same weight glove he wore, used the same ball and tried to imitate his delivery and enthusiasm on the lanes. We soon became friends and despite our geographic distance he called me every week through my high school years to talk about bowling and life. During the summer months at the Ritger camps in Ithaca, he spent countless hours mentoring me, and then treating to me special dinners for just the two of us. Every time I came to bowl in Syracuse for tournaments, he always came to support me. One of my reasons I chose to attend Syracuse University was to be able to see him more often. During those four years in the early 1990s, he would pick me up at my dorm every Monday night, we would stop at Columbus Bakery to share a flat loaf as we drove to Watertown to bowl and then return to Syracuse. On Fridays, we would meet at Freemont Lanes for dinner before he bowled. On many Saturdays, I drove him to tournaments in Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, etc., and I would spend the whole day watching him bowl and proudly carried his equipment. He introduced me to everyone he knew and made me feel like I was a family member. I will never forget the conversations we had during our road trips. He always talked about his family with love. On Sundays, he invited me to the house to watch the PBA Tour on TV in his back “work out” room. We would talk for hours and I soaked up every word he shared. Jean refused to allow me to leave the house without eating. Marty did countless things for me. Our relationship started out with him teaching me to be a better bowler, and it turned out he taught me much more about life. I will never forget him. He had a profound impact on me.

To the entire Piraino family, I last had the pleasure of seeing "Mr. Syracuse" of bowling in 1999 when I competed in the ABC Tournament there. Seems like yesterday when my parents took me to Brockton, MA. to see him compete on the PBA Tour and the later on at Bradley Bowl in Windsor Locks, CT. Haden't changed a bit and he still remembered me from my writing days in the sport at the ripe "young" age of 75 then... Wish the sport, or the world for that matter, had more people like him, a really great guy to know... RIP Marty

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

Jay and Piraino family, I am so sorry for your loss. I remember Marty as being a great, wonderful, gentle man. My Dad bowled with him at times thoughout their lives. Today, I'm sure my Dad Jack Corbin and he are bowling their butts off and having fun! He will be sooo missed by many, many people. RIP Cindi Corbin

Mary Jean, Jay and the entire Piraino family:

I am currently dealing with some health issues with my wife and have eight out of town guests at my home - or you know I would be there with you all. I don't know where to begin. You do not have many friends for 55 years. When I was eleven years old I was coming home from the movies in a torrential downpour, running from doorway to doorway trying not to get completely soaked. As I ran down Salina Street, I stopped at the front door of a big building and decided to see what was inside. There were eight bowling lanes and some wooden seats to sit in. So I sat for a moment when a man came up and asked me my name and did I ever bowl before. That was Marty, and we have been friends ever since. I can remember like it was yesterday when I would come through the front door and Mr. Piraino (Sam) would yell from the bar "Hey Curly". Then I would have to go into the bar and deal with his crushing handshake. To this day, I have no idea where he got the "curly" name from. South Side Recreation became an important part of my growing up. The easy part of being around the Piraino family was Mom and the girls who fed me almost more than my Mom as a teenager. Marty and brother Sam were a bit harder. Marty would allow me to work in order to bowl a few free games - but he was a taskmaster. Sam on the other hand just never appreciated my lousy attitude and bad temper! Getting to know Sam better as an adult was a real pleasure. I am sorry that I did not get to know brother Andy better, but I always enjoyed the opportunity to bowl with him in the afternoon pot games. Butch could have been as good a bowler as he wanted to be, but I just don't think that was a priority. Besides, he always had two or three jobs! I can remember when the league standings would be posted on the wall. I went to look at the classic league and saw Marty's average at 222. I remember thinking "that's impossible!" When I spoke to Marty a few weeks ago, the first thing he asked was "how are you bowling?" Well, I'm 66 years old now and finished my Sr. Scratch league last year at 223. I may not be a very fast learner, but with Marty's tips over all of these years, and brother Sam insisting that I work on my attitude - I finally learned how to bowl a little! God bless the entire family. With love from the west coast.

Roger (Binky) Harrington

Dear Mary Jean, Jay and Michael, I am so sorry for your loss. I know your pain as I am dealing with the loss of my mother at the same time here on Tipp Hill. Marty was a lifetime hero of mine. I have know him since I was a little boy learning to bowl at the Ukrainian Club some 48 years ago. My favorite Marty story is that he would tell my friends that I would sit on his lap as a young boy and listen to his stories while he would get in his practice sessions for the City League at the Ukrainian National Home. I also relished the thought that he would affectionately call me Dewey Antinelli's "step son " - a close personal of both of us. May God give you strength during these trying times and take heart that Marty is now in heaven with your mom. Sincerely,
Andrew Melnyk

I moved here in 1989 but I didn't get introduced to Marty until the mid 1990's. My loss. During my early years here I had heard the legends and watched him on TV. Later I was blessed to have had some brief conversations with him and learn from him as he prepared to give youth lessons at Flamingo. Having coached bowlers and coaches over the past 41 years I still was able to learn amazaing things from Marty as he coached his bowlers. He was the only coach/instructor I've met in the past 41 years who really had a zeal for teaching the game and passing it on in a way that brings life lessons along. An amazing man who leaves amazing memories for us all. We have the watch. Sailor rest your oar.

Reflections of You

When all of our experiences have compiled us to be, I hope that something happy and good in you, in some way reflected from knowing me-Denise Morini
It sure sounds like Marty touched many lives in a positive way. That's something to be grateful and proud of. I enjoyed reading all the history included in the obituary. It's like I can envision the city of Syracuse as it is supposed to be. It sounded like a wonderful place to live, very family and neighbor orienated. My twin brother and I got our first bikes from Mary Jean and Jay's hand me downs and Mary Jean made a home made dresss for my doll Crissy on my 8th birthday (you guys remember the doll from the 70's whose hair grew?). Later my twin brother Dennis was on Challenge bowling quite a bit as I watched in the audience at 15 or so. It would be great to see one of those old tapes are they available anywhere? I visited with Jean at Van Dyne while she was there for a brief stay and she gave my son a nice stuffed animal about six years ago and a few years ago, Marty showed up at the bowling alley (bowling green, with Jays assistance) to give Joey a few pointers.
They are all nice people, but most of all I'd like to thank them for all the love and support that they have given my brother Rob and sister Sandra over the years.

Mr Sam Piraino & Family,
I was saddened to read about the loss of your brother. I remember how proud you were of him and all of his accomplishments. You intoduced me to your brother, Marty while fishing on Oneida Lake. I also worked with you @ CGH. Travel prvents me from being there in person.
Deepest Condolences to you and your family.
Fred Buck

Marty, I am so grateful for the blessing of caring for you and for the warmth and love of life that surrounded you. Jay and Mary Jean, it was a pleasure to have been with you as you stood at your father's side and shared your love and support with him. You are such a beautiful family. May the peace and healing that can only come from above be yours, as you feel the reassurance that his spirit will always live on.

I first knew of Marty watching Syracuse bowls, long before I even started bowling myself. When I did attempt to qualify for the show when I first started bowling Marty always offered an encouraging word or two to me. He told me many times "Kid with that temper you ain't going nowhere in ths game." Took me many years to understand what he was talking about but glad I took his advice! My thoughts & prayers go out to his entire family. Gone but never to be forgotten, God bless.

Our condolences go out to the Piraino family. Our father was Gene Peterson. We have many great memories of Marty. He was a wonderful man and will be greatly missed.

This is for Jay-we are so sorry about the passing of your dad. Please know that you are in our thoughts. George and Smoke Planty.

My most heartfelt sympathy to the Piraino family. Like many Syracuse Baby Boomer children, I grew up watching Marty on Syracuse Bowls and Bowling for Dollars. Sadly, I never met Marty or his wonderful family. Please know that Marty will forever be remembered as a true class act, an enduring legend to bowlers everywhere and a Syracuse hero. Marty, your infectious spirit and constant smile will always be with us. And The Angels Sing....(Johnny Mercer)

So sorry to hear about Marty's passing. My Dad, Ed Stone, had many great years bowling with Marty and I learned a great deal about bowling while in the Junior leagues at South Side. Hello Jay... my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Jay, Mary Jean and Family, Our prayers and thoughts are with you at this time. Marty was well liked by everyone. Will never forget going to Challenge Bowling with our kids and your dad always knowing who they were. Even later in years when he would see our daughter, Jenni, your dad would say "your Sonny's daughter" he never forgot. Cherish the memories you have of him always. He will be missed by all.

JAY, SAM, MARY JANE AND THE ENTIRE PIRAINO FAMILY;
MY SINCERE CONDOLANCES TO YOU ALL. MARTY MAY NOT BE WITH US BUT HIS MEMORY WILL LIVE ON. HE WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO NEVER WITHHELD HIS WORLDLY EXPERIENCE FROM ANYONE SEEKING ADVICE. HE WAS A VALUED MENTOR AT THE RITKER ACADEMY HELD IN ITHICA THAT I ATTENDED WHILE IN COLLEGE. WELL I REMEMBER HIS WORDS WHILE PARTICIPATING IN BOWLING FOR DOLLARS, AS A FRIEND AND FELLOW COMPETITOR AT THE FLAMINGO WEDNESDAY MORNING SENIOR BOWLING LEAGUE AND THE TUESDAY AND THURSDAY AFTERNOON SENIOR BOWLING GET TOGETHER.
WE ALL HAVE LOST A TRUE GEM.
WITH SYMPATHY
BOB "WARGY" WARGULESKI

Jay, Mary Jean and all the Marty Piraino family and relatives

My deepest sympathy to all of you on the passing of Marty. Marty was the best! We were very good friends and very close for many years. I can recall the many visits to your home and my staying at the Piraino's for Syracuse Bowls was very much appreciated. When I joined the PBA tour it was because of Marty and his mentoring. There are to many good stories I remember and those memories will last forever. Marty cared for me like I was his son but mostly as a close friend. Our exhibitions together and against one another were all great. I can remember meeting Earl Anthony for the first time at Marty's house and then two weeks later being with Earl and crossing on the same pair with Earl at South Bend, Ind. and sharing rides with one another. Marty knew everyone and what he said to Nelson Burton Jr. I will never forget. He was the best from Syracuse and he was feared on the tour or in Syracuse whenever they had to face him in competition. He always gave 100 % on the lanes. He cared deeply for his family and his friends. My family and I will surely miss not having him around to talk too. God Bless you Marty. I know you are in a better place with Jean and your Mom and Dad.

Hey Cuz,

So sorry about your Dad's passing. Wish we could be there with the family to talk about the old times but you are all in our thoughts. It is great to read all the articles written about Marty as his legacy will go on forever. GOD Bless you Mary Jean, Jay, Michael & "Rock" that you get through this difficult time and remember all the good things your Father, Grandfather & Uncle did for all the people of Central NY.

Marty Jr. & Melanie

To Mr. Piraino's family (I was only allowed to call him by that name). My dad, Johnny Fillinger used to bowl with him many years ago. I remember my dad saying as he headed to the lanes saying...."I'm gonna hit em' just like MARTY PIRAINO"! He never came close, but he had fun trying!...So when we have thunderstoms in the future, I'll know you'll be hitting those strikes!!! Blessings to you and your family.

Jay, Mary Jean and all the Piraino family
Our deepest sympathy in the passing of Marty. I treasured all our times together. Marty and I were very close over the years. When I traveled from the north country and competed on Syracuse Bowls on weekends, I was always put up at the Piraino house when competing on the show the next day. Marty was one of my sponsors when I joined the PBA. We sometimes traveled together to PBA tournaments and we often bowled together and against one another in exhibitions. We even bowled together at the ABC's and other tournaments over the years. He always had my back and I did the same for him. I will miss our frequent phone visits and get togethers. I know in my heart he is with Jean and in a better place. He put Syracuse on the map in bowling and he represented the city well in whatever he did. He was a sincere friend and a gentleman. God Bless you Marty (Champ). I will miss you dear friend. Your name and memories will live forever with the people like myself that got to know you and be around you.

Honey, Ed and family...Thinking of you during this difficult time and keeping you all in thought and prayer. So sorry for your loss. He will be missed. R.I.P. Marty.

Jay, So sorry to hear about your dad. He was a great man and alot of fun at the lanes. I can hear him say "It's Kimmy in Florida" He is now at peace and enjoying his time with your mom. I will never forget the both of them. It is a real honor to say that I knew MARTY PIRAINO!

Jay & Family .... My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I will miss bringing your dad Italian Wedding soup and bread pudding. Make sure you still come and see us at the Hometown Diner in Bridgeport.
Mary Sager (Bridgeport, NY)

I am truly sorry for your loss. I have had many occasions to bowl with, against or just had a conversation with "Marty". He was always smiling and always brought a smile to me. He will be forever missed to all that knew him. Eric Birdslow (Syracuse, NY)

My thoughts and prayers are with the family. To me, Marty was the greatest bowler I ever had the opportunity to meet! This was not only because of how well he bowled, but his passion for the sport and children! I was one of the many who bowled on his Sat morning show so many years ago. He was amazing at remembering each one of us, no matter how long it had been since we had seen him last. Another Angel has just entered Heaven!

Jay and Family,
With deepest sympathy at this time. Your dad will be remembered as a great person who always brought a smile to those he was with.
Tom and Pam Franco

I was sorry to hear of your passing. My condolences to your family. You will be missed by all who knew you.
Marty Connors St.Anthony HS '71 Marcellus, NY

My sympathy to all of Martys family. Although Marty is known for his bowling, I remember Marty(and Sam)as two young men who worked with their father when Sam Sr. made his trips to Cazenovia with his produce truck. God bless Marty.

I just want to offer my prayers in this tough time. There will be no more 7 pins missed in heavan.
I just want to add a quick story. My Dad "Moose used to bowl in all the same leagues with Marty back in the 60's. I would beg my dad to bring me and he would say why, you don't watch me you watch Marty.I used to imitate Marty's sort of dance to the line around the house. You know what I am 99.9% right handed in all sports but I ended up a left handed bowler. Interesting.
I will miss his greetings to me as recent as a couple of weeks ago. Hey JJ how you doing.
He will be missed by all and God Bleass to the family

Awe....You will be missed. God Bless the families.

Jay - I am so sorry to hear of your Dad's passing. To have known your Dad was to know love and the special bond the two of you had to one another. Healing hugs and tender kisses - Jody Rao

JAY,MY PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WITH THE PASSING OF YOUR FATHER. DON BROWN JR CONSTANTIA,NY

marty, RIP, many years ago marty came to watertown new york, to the old watertown bowl. i was just starting to learn the game. marty showed me a few tricks and the things i was doing wrong. when i left upstate ny i had about a 190 average. if i hadn't been for marty i wouldn't have been anywhere near this good. bowling just lost its greatest spokesman.THANKS MARTY. edward holder jr statesville north carolina

Marty, thank you for always making me feel welcome in Syracuse. It was an honor and a joy to know you.
Fran Wolf Deken(Coweta, OK)

Marty, you sure touched the lives of many in the bowling community...you were always there to help and give advice.. you will be missed but never forgotten..to your family my thoughts and prayers go out to them...RIP Marty !!! oxoxox

Jay, I'm so very sorry to hear about your dad's passing. I want you and your family to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. Your Dad was an amazing man who touched the lives of many. Everyone who knew him will miss him. I will always cherish the great times we had at Fremont Lanes.

Mary Jean, Jay and the entire Piraino Family,

I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of your father and family member.
Marty was my hero and probably had more influence on me becoming a dedicated bowler than any other person in the bowling community. More than anything i was always impressed by his dedication to fitness and his demanding practice sessions. Marty would bowl against you with the same intensity whether you were bowling for a cup of coffee or for a bowling title. His legacy in the Syracuse bowling community will always be his willingness to spend time with anyone wishing to inprove their game. He always had time for everyone whether they were a junior bowler or a senior just getting started in the game. The fond memories i have of Marty will last a lifetime, he will be greatly missed.

My thoughts and prayers are with your family at this difficult time. I have fond memories of Marty on Bowling for Dollars as my father was a regular on that show in the 80's and visiting him at Syracuse Bowling Alley when I was an employee there, he will surely be missed.

Mike, I'm very sorry about the loss of your Grandfather. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Dear Piraino Family:

I enjoyed watching Marty bowl with my father, Tony Caloia and my Uncles Flash (Raphael) and Vito Caloia on the classic leagues when they bowled for Raphael's Restaurant and Twin Trees and when he was on Syracuse Bowls. It seemed he was always around when my Dad was bowling in his leagues and at all the tournaments, which was quite often back then. My very deepest sympathy is with your family at this time. He was a wonderful, warm, kind hearted, sweet man and he will be truly missed. He was and always will be an icon in the Syracuse bowling arena. May he rest in peace!

Dear Mary Jean,Jay and the entire Pirano family,there is not enough room for me to say what I feel about Marty, as a young left handed bowler in syracuse Marty was it, he put Syracuse on the map and represented the bowling community with class, always a smile and a kind word and knew everyones name. My heart is heavy today God Speed Marty, we will miss those Sunday night calls.
Sue Tacy Ostuni

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

We're so very sorry to hear about your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Jay I was very sad to read of the passing of your Father. He always made my time with him enjoyable and memorable. He always made me feel important and all the people around him at the time. I know he made my Father happy after my Dad had seven hundred bowling before my father had six hundred they were also friends.Marty was a good person and I know that you and your family will miss him as will all the people who knew him I will keep you and your family and your Dad in my prayers Jim Fix

Jay, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I will always remember the smile on his face.

Flora,

We are so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Francine Bassett, Michael and Molly Dober

The days at Fremont Lanes were the best days of my life thanks to Marty and the Piraino family.

Deepest sympathies and condolences for the loss of such a unique individual, not only in the sporting world but in the everyday celebration of life. I"ll always remember Mr. Marty's "Young Man!",when I make a mistake on the lanes.
Pete & Ruth DiGenaro and family

Jay, our hearts and prayers go out to you and your family.



Dave and Judy Baumler

THE GREATEST LEFTY OF ALL HAS LEFT US. JAY AND FAMILY,YOU ALL WILL BE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS JOE TERZINI

M.J.,

Our deepest sympathy to you and your family.

Marty, you are an icon in our bowling community and your legacy will live on. You taught us how to win and how to lose with grace and dignity. To those of us who continue to enjoy the game, we thank you for all you did for our sport. May you rest in peace and teach all the angels up there how to pick up a 7-10 split. You will be missed by all. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family...May they find comfort knowing you are at peace.

Marty, altough i never said it to you personaly words will never be enough to thank you for what you did for me in my bowling career, whether it was giving me tips when i was a young kid at syracuse bowling center or as i grew into mens league and was not the most well mannered at times you never held tha against me and always gave words of encouragement for that i will always be thankfull, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family you will truly be missed but never forgotten.

Some of my earliest bowling memories were of Marty and his many appearances on Syracuse Bowls. I feel very fortunate that when I moved to the Syracuse area in the late 1980's that I got to know Marty through his work on 3 Championship Bowling and Challenge Bowling and bowling in the City League. He was a class act, and a great promoter of the sport.

I send my condolences and sympathy to the rest of the Piraino family. He will most definitely be missed.

So sorry to hear of Marty's passing. Our hearts are with the entire Piraino family. I'm sure Marty and my father George are now bowling pot games on 15 and 16 at the South Side. Mike and Mary Cornish(Homosassa, Fl.)

My thoughts and Prayers are with all of you at this time. It was a pleasure knowing Marty. I enjoyed the stories he used to tell us. He is going to be missed
dearly.

My condolences to Marty's Family. Marty you will be missed. I remember all the good times we had at your "South Side Lanes".Bowling on the junior league you had .I grew up in the neighborhood where the lanes were and he kept us all out of trouble !!! R.I.P. Marty

Marty, Thank you for being a good friend, a great individual, and always having a smile on your face and laugh on your lips. You always made time to stop to say hello. I will always remember those days in my heart. I know you took your equipment to heaven. I look forward to suiting up with you again someday.

My condolences,Jay,Mary Jean and family. Thank you Mr.Piraino for all the good times we had .I remenber the times we bowled across the house, you,others,Jay and I after the work was done ofcourse. I also remenber how you made Jay,Steve and I run 4 1/2 miles a night, all summer long, to not run was not an option,we could'nt say no to you.

Marty, I remember when you encouraging me when you would come to Viking Lanes. You were always such and inspiration to me, Rest in Peace.

Marty, I will miss your many phone calls and your yearly Birthday wishes that you sang to me..I love you, your sister Honey.

Marty, you will be so missed. Many's the time my friend's and I went bowling at your, "South Side Lanes". We all thought the world of you. Thanks for the memories.