Hanks, Cassidy honored at GRUSBC banquet

Contributed Photos – Mark McVay, left, nephew of the late Joe Mortellaro, congratulates Randy Hanks, proprietor of Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, upon Hanks’ selection as the first Joe Mortellaro Memorial Award recipient.

By Mike Pettinella

Albion’s Oak Orchard Bowl proprietor Randy Hanks received the inaugural Joe Mortellaro Memorial Away at this weekend’s Genesee Region USBC annual Banquet at Batavia.

The award, sponsored by the Mortellaro family and the GRUSBC, honors Joe, the longtime president of the Batavia Bowling Association, pro shop owner and outstanding bowler, who passed away in December 2024.

In his acceptance speech, Hanks recalled meeting Joe Mortellaro for the first time during the New York State Open Championships at Rapids Bowling Center in Niagara Falls in 2010.

“We all were getting ready to bowl the states and Joe was sitting down and he came up to me and said, ‘Hey, I hear you’ve been doing a lot of good things at the (Oak Orchard Bowl) bowling center.’ And that just meant the world to me, especially from an outsider,” he said, “I heard it a lot from, obviously, our league bowlers, but it was just something amazing that Joe said that to me and I appreciated it very much.”

Hanks, who has built his league base from 100 to close to 400 over the 20 years that he has owned the 18-lane center, thanked the committee consisting of the Mortellaro family and the GRUSBC board for the award. He also thanked his wife, Renee, and grown children who work at the lanes. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here now,” he said.

Guest speaker Josh Kierpiec of Rochester congratulates Sarah Cassidy of Albion, who bowled a 300 game in January — the first by a woman bowler at Oak Orchard Bowl — and Gianna LaPiana of Mount Morris, who had the high game (246) and series (628) in girls’ youth competition this season.

A founding member of the Youth Bowlers Tour in the Rochester area, Hanks is a member of the New York State Bowling Proprietors Association and is a former delegate to the New York State USBC annual meeting. In 2014, he was named “Proprietor of the Year” by the NYS USBC. Oak Orchard Bowl conducts several charity tournaments, including for the PAWS Animal Shelter in Albion and the Scott Whittier Memorial Scholarships.

Mark McVay, Joe’s nephew, presented a plaque and $200 gift card to Hanks after sharing a heartfelt tribute to his “Uncle Joe,”

“To me, Uncle Joe was more than an accomplished bowler. He was my uncle, my neighbor and such an important part of my everyday life,” McVay said. “Having him so close meant more to me than I can express, especially after my dad (Fred) passed away. Uncle Joe filled the void at that time in my life when I needed that steady presence and guidance and support. He was my mentor and my favorite uncle.”

Mortellaro, known as “Mr. Bowling” in the Genesee Region, was the longtime co-owner of Joe’s Pro Shop.

“Uncle Joe loved gathering with family and friends … he was warm, generous, approachable and loved by many,” McVay said. “I am grateful to the USBC committee for creating this award. It means so much to me that his impact upon the sport and this community will continue to be remembered for years to come.”