By Joe D’Amodio Staten Island Advance
Gathered at the Mike Massaroli Memorial League awards banquet from left, are league president Ramon Tirado, treasurer Joseph Ambroso, Diane Massaroli, vice president Anthony Barberio and Massaroli’s children, Michael, 19, and Angelina, 12. (Staten Island Advance/Hilton Flores)
When Mike Massaroli died in the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11, members of his bowling league didn’t hesitate to rename the Men’s Triples League after the 38-year vice president of operations for Cantor Fitzgerald.
Thirteen years later when the Mike Massaroli Memorial League was looking for funds to keep the loop flourishing, Massaroli’s wife, Diane, didn’t hesitate to throw some money the league’s way.
League members and officials thanked Diane personally Tuesday night when she showed up at the league’s annual awards banquet at Rab’s Country Lanes and presented her, along with her children, with a gift for her sponsorship.
“My husband was a bowler from the time he was 10 years old,” said Diane. “Bowling was something that he really loved, and for them to rename the league after him was huge to me because bowling is something he really loved.”
And Diane said she was more than happy to help the league with some financial support when they came calling.
“I didn’t want the league to go away,” said the Eltingville resident. “Most of the guys bowled with my husband so I told them I would help out, and I assured them this year that I would keep sponsoring the league. Bowling was Mike’s true passion and this was something I had to do.”
When Massaroli perished, the loop had been bowling at the now-defunct Bowling on the Green. It later found a home at Rab’s Country Lanes. Ray Tirado is now the league’s president and is keeping the loop pointed in the right direction and he said securing new funds was instrumental in keeping the league going.
“The league was getting smaller and smaller because you need money and a big prize fund to attract the bowlers,” said Tirado. “We actually picked up four new teams because of Diane. She was nice enough to sponsor the league. It could have folded.”
League treasurer Joe Ambroso had run the league for years at the Green with Jimmy Andruzzi Sr., and he remembers Massaroli well.
“He was very competitive. He took bowling very, very seriously,” said Ambroso. “He was a good guy, well liked and respected as a good bowler.”
And when it came time for asking Diane to sponsor the team, Ambroso was the one who asked her about it.
“I felt awkward about approaching her but the guys encouraged me and when I asked her about it, she said absolutely,” explained Ambroso.
And as a result, the Mike Massaroli Memorial League will roll on for a while longer.
