Our Pictures Tell Our Story... Leaguer For Life Bowler honored for 62 years in league. We embrace and support residents of all religions Welcome Home! Steve Stein Contributing Writer E xcept for a two-year stint in the military, Jerry Gurwin has been bowling in a B'nai B'rith league since 1951. That's 62 years, if you're counting. He's in his seventh decade as a B'nai B'rith bowler. Gurwin was 171/2 when he began B'nai B'rith bowling. The age limit is 18. "I lied about my age back then:' he admitted. Despite that minor transgres- sion, the board of directors of the Metropolitan Detroit B'nai B'rith Bowling Association, through President Howard Waxer, presented Gurwin with a plaque earlier this month at the Brotherhood-Eddie Jacobson League end-of-season ban- quet at Larco's Italian Grill in West Bloomfield. The plaque honors Gurwin for his "first 62 years" of B'nai B'rith bowling. "Everyone there was surprised. Jerry didn't know about the plaque, and nei- ther did the guys in the league Waxer said. "Jerry probably should have got- ten the plaque when he reached 60 years of B'nai B'rith bowling, but we didn't know then that it was 60 years." Gurwin said being presented the plaque caught him off-guard. "I didn't expect it. It's very nice the Farmington Hills resident said. Working with Gurwin, Waxer came up with a list of nearly a dozen bowl- ing centers where Gurwin has bowled in B'nai B'rith league through the years. Many no longer exist. Like the Bowl-A-Drome, Dexter Recreation, Y-Seven Lanes, Oak Park Lanes and West Bloomfield Lanes. "We estimate that Jerry has bowled more than 6,000 games and knocked down more than 1 million pins in B'nai B'rith leagues and tournaments:' Waxer said. "He's shown amazing dedi- cation to B'nai B'rith and to the sport:' (_4 ST. ANNE'S MEAD Assisted Living. Nursing Care. Helping residents and their families cope with life changes. 16106 W. 12 Mile Rd., Southfield, MI 48076 248.557.1221 • www.stannesmead.org Actively Active Aging Centers Imagine... Regaining 10 or more years of your physical function. What would you be able to do? The ActiveRx System will get you up and going again, or keep you going on the path to lifelong wellness! T. Manage pain Prevent falls Prevent disease Ensure independent living Invest 1% of your time and recover 30% of your strength and ability to function. SERVICES INCLUDE: • ActivEvalTM — whole body function evaluation • Active Physical Therapy • Pre- and Post-surgical Rehab • StrengtherapyTM — award-winning Active Aging membership We gladly accept Medicare and other Insurances For more information, call (248)932-0111 or FRE visit ActiveRx.com Initial Evaluatio a $100 Value ActiveRx West Bloomfield Active Aging Center ActiveRx West Bloomfield Active Aging Center 6018 West Maple Road, Suite 850 West Bloomfield 48322 Offer Expires July 31, 201 6018 West Maple Road, Suite 850 West Bloomfield 48322 1834000 48 May 30 • 2013 Gurwin averaged 165 this season. He calls himself "not a pro, but a bowler for life. I keep bowling in B'nai B'rith because I love the competition and the people he said. "They're my friends. I'm already looking forward to next season:' Gurwin turned 79 last week. He proudly points out that besides bowl- ing, he plays golf three days a week and he works part-time at area body shops. He owned Gurwin's Auto Body on Eight Mile and Livernois in Detroit for 52 years before retiring 10 years ago. Waxer, himself a 30- to 40-year B'nai B'rith bowler, said he's never been on the same B'nai B'rith team as Gurwin, but he always enjoys bowling against him. "He's the nicest guy in the world, so easy-going:' he said. "But he's also extremely competitive:' Gurwin said he started bowling when he was about 13 at the Bowl-A- Drome, located on Dexter and Leslie in Detroit. "You could bowl three games for 50 cents. You used one of the bowling balls there and you could rent bowling shoes, but we couldn't afford that so we bowled in our socks:' he said. He purchased his first bowling ball when he was in his early 20s, after he'd been drafted into the U.S. Army and served two years at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. "For $28, I bought a rubber bowling ball — I wish I still had it — shoes and a bag:' he said. He graduated from Wilbur Wright High School in Detroit in 1952. Like many places where Gurwin has bowled in B'nai B'rith leagues, the high school no longer exists. Gurwin's wife, Lee, passed away 10 years ago. He has three daughters, eight grandchildren and two great- grandchildren. ❑ Please send sports news to sports@ thejewishnews.com .