'Bowling Was His Life': Beloved Face Of Orland Bowl Dies At 83 (2024)

Obituaries

Edward "Eddie" Kwiatkowski was a cherished member of the Orland Bowl family and well-known face of the sport in the south suburbs.

Posted Wed, Apr 12, 2023 at 6:01 pm CT|Updated Thu, Apr 13, 2023 at 11:24 am CT

Edward Kwiatkowski—who became an employee at now-defunct Orland Bowl the day it opened and stayed until its last day in business more than four decades later—died April 11 at the age of 83.

Kwiatkowski spent 74 of his 83 years hitting the lanes, as well as running leagues at the Orland Park alley. He was a past president and lifetime member of the Chicagoland Metropolitan Bowling Association.

Kwiatkowski had a deep love for the sport, his son Dennis told Patch.

"The man just loved bowling," Dennis said. "Bowling was his life. If he wasn’t at home, he was basically at the bowling alley."

Kwiatkowski supported his family of four children—sons Dennis and Douglas, and daughters Denise and Donna—with a career as a computer programmer. He worked for the First National Bank of Chicago, which would later become Chase, for decades before his retirement. While employed there, he got a part-time job as a water meter reader for the Village of Crestwood. He'd go door-to-door to read meters, making 25 cents a house, Dennis said. Each summer they'd vacation in Lake Shafer, Indiana, and Kwiatkowski used his earnings from his jobs and winnings from bowling to cover the bill.

"My dad was a hard worker," Dennis stressed to Patch.

Kwiatkowski began his bowling leadership running leagues at Tinley Bowl, until the opening of Orland Bowl. He then moved the leagues he ran at the former over to the latter, and was there ever since.

His love of hurling balls down a lane at pins can be traced back to age 9, when Dennis' great-grandfather taught Kwiatkowski the sport. Like his mentor, left-handed Kwiatkowski did everything else leftie, but bowled rightie.

"It was the competitiveness that my dad enjoyed," Dennis said, of Kwiatkowski's passion for the sport. "He wasn’t really big on trying to be the best average, he just loved the game of bowling."

That passion rubbed off on those around him, including his wife of 60 years, Karen. Kwiatkwoski introduced her to bowling, and the two bowled in mixed leagues for years. Karen died in January 2023. He also passed the passion along to Dennis and his brother, who continue to bowl together today, on a mixed league with Dennis' wife and daughter.

Many of their games were bowled at the Orland alley, the closing of which was felt by many.

"It was absolutely devastating," Dennis told Patch. "Orland (Bowl) was our second home."

Kwiatkowski's dedication to the sport landed him two, 300 games. His first came in 2005.

"He figured he bowled about 50,000 games before he bowled his first 300, that's just a rough estimate," Dennis said laughing. "And then he bowled his second one weeks later."

Christina Halleran, wife of Orland Bowl co-owner Dennis Halleran, reflected on his time there, and 19 years of working alongside him.

"A few years ago Eddie K in his 80’s was starting to slow down," she wrote. "He asked Dennis if he was going to let him go. Of course, Dennis was mortified that he even thought that. Eddie said, 'Well I can’t do what I used to do here.' Dennis said, 'Then Eddie just come in, eat, punch in and look busy or sleep at your computer, I don’t really care. But you are not leaving this building till the day I do.'"

The Chicagoland Metropolitan Bowling Association shared a tribute to Kwiatkowski.

"Eddie spent many years dedicated to volunteering on the Chicagoland board, as well as continuing to be a center rep delivering awards," the association shared on social media. "He worked for Orland Bowl for many years as well, and was secretary for many of their leagues. Eddie truly loved the sport of bowling. He will be missed by many in our community. Our condolences go out to his family and friends."

Bowler Kevin Malloy Jr. spent years interacting with Kwiatkowski in leagues at Orland Bowl.

"Nobody worked harder for everyone else," Malloy shared. "You ran leagues, ran pots and bowled without missing a frame. Always had a kind word and smart ass comment, and knew which person needed which part.

"It wouldn't surprise me one bit if you're still looking for the strike pot dollar from the grave. Rest easy, Eddie K. You quite literally kept 75 percent of the south suburbs leagues together with your hard work."

Malloy recalled watching Kwiatkowski keeping the leagues running smoothly.

"Whenever I bowled at Orland (mostly Thursdays and Fridays), he was there working his ass off running leagues and pots," Malloy said. "He ran a 222 pot (had to shoot 222 on the head) and it carried over. If I missed a week, he'd walk right to my lane and all I'd hear is 'Yo, Malloy' with him rubbing his fingers and thumb together signaling 'give me money' ... all over $2. It was a funny thing for us."

"A true legend!" wrote a follower on Orland Bowl's social media.

Kwiatkowski was also a U.S. Air Force Veteran. He was a father of four, grandfather to five, and great-grandfather to two.

Visitation will be held Friday, April 14 from 2 to 9 P.M. at Becvar & Son Funeral Home, 5539 W. 127th St. in Crestwood. Funeral service will be held Saturday, April 15, at 10 a.m. See his full obituary online.