John Venturello; World’s Oldest Bowler

“Pappa” John Venturello, 105, world’s oldest bowler. Recognized for his longevity by the American Bowling Congress, Venturello bowled for nine decades before his eyesight failed last year. When he reached his 100th birthday, he appeared on “The Tonight Show” and was profiled in People magazine. A shepherd from Salerno, Italy, Venturello immigrated to New York City with his family in 1903. Appropriately, his first job in the United States was tending pins in a bowling alley. He bowled his only 300 game in 1907 but did not get serious about bowling until retiring to Florida in 1966. He maintained an average in the 140s, always bowling with young men and claiming he was too young to join senior leagues. On March 31 in Plantation, Fla.