Patty Costello

Patty Costello (May 8, 1947, Washington, D.C. – April 16, 2009, Scranton, Pennsylvania) was an American left-handed professional ten-pin bowler and former member of the Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA). She was one of the best female bowlers of the 1970s and 1980s. Costello is a member of the USBC and PWBA Halls of Fame.
Born to William Joseph and Marjorie Moran Costello in Washington, D.C., Costello did not begin bowling until the age of 16, but she quickly made a name for herself in the sport, winning four titles in 1970.
Professional career
Over her bowling career, Costello earned 39 professional titles (25 in PWBA-WPBA events and another 14 in LPBA-LPBT events), including eight major championships. Her majors include four titles in the PWBA Players Championship (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976) and three victories at the U.S. Women's Open (1974, 1976 and 1980).
In 1976, she won six PWBA events, setting a record for most titles earned in a year, plus another two titles in LPBA events. (The record for PWBA-only titles was later set by Carolyn Dorin-Ballard with seven in 2001, although Dorin-Ballard competed in eight more events.) Costello was named Female Bowler of the Year by the Bowling Writer's Association of America in 1972 and 1976.
Costello's career suffered a setback in late 1977, when her father suddenly died of a heart attack while watching her provide commentary for a bowling telecast. Afterwards, she experienced depression and anxiety attacks for several years. She told Bowling Digest in 2002, "I was so ultrasensitive to everything around me that I could feel the hair on my arms standing straight up, and no one could comprehend that. I would go to doctors and tell them my symptoms, and they'd look at me like I was ready for the psych ward. It was an awful, lonely place to be." However, Costello recovered and won seven titles between 1978 and 1981, including capturing her third U.S. Women's Open crown in 1980. At the time, she was one of only two bowlers (Marion Ladewig being the other) to win the U.S. Open at least three times. Kelly Kulick and Liz Johnson have since joined that exclusive group. Patty won three more championships in 1985, and was named Player of the Year by her fellow bowlers. Her final title was earned at the 1986 Ebonite Firebolt Classic.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Patty won a pair of WIBC (now USBC) Open Championship titles in the Classic Team category (1970 and 1972). Costello is a member of the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (inducted 1989) and the PWBA Hall of Fame (inducted 1995).
Costello's professional titles
Major championships in bold text. (Source: 11thframe.com)
1968 St. Paul Open
1970 Columbia 300 Open
1970 Showboat Open
1970 Canton Open
1970 Phoenix Open
1971 Ebonite Open
1971 PWBA Championship
1972 Japan Starlanes Classic
1972 Sacramento Classic
1972 El Cajon Classic
1972 PWBA Championship
1972 Ebonite Cavalcade of Stars
1974 U.S. Women’s Open
1974 Columbia 300 PWBA Championship
1974 Charlie Parker Pro Shop Open
1974 Canton Classic
1975 Ocean State Classic
1976 Greater Akron Classic
1976 LPBA Classic (L)
1976 U.S. Women’s Open
1976 Houston Open
1976 Miami Open
1976 Jamestown Open (L)
1976 Columbia 300 Classic
1976 PWBA Championship
1977 National Bowling Council Mixed Doubles (w/Paul Colwell)
1977 Miami Classic
1977 Houston BPAA Open
1978 Montgomery Ward Los Angeles Open
1979 Robby’s Chicago Classic
1980 U.S. Women’s Open
1980 Pabst Extra Light Classic I
1980 Pabst Extra Light Classic II
1981 Dallas Classic
1981 Pabst Extra Light Classic
1985 Hammer Midwest Open
1985 Fairhaven Classic
1985 LPBT Tournament of Champions
1986 Ebonite Firebolt Classic
L = Tournament conducted by LPBA.
Accomplishments and honors
39 professional titles
3x Female Bowler of the Year (1972, 1976, 1985)
USBC Hall of Fame inductee (1989)
Personal
After retiring from competitive bowling, Costello began a career as a transport driver with the Community Medical Center in Scranton, Pennsylvania. "Bowling was my job then; this is my job now. In both cases, I've always been happy to meet people, talk to them, and get them feeling good to be around me", she told Bowling Digest.
Costello died of pancreatic cancer, aged 61, at the VNA Hospice, Scranton, Pennsylvania, on April 16, 2009.
References
1947 births
2009 deaths
Sportspeople from Scranton, Pennsylvania
American ten-pin bowling players
Deaths from pancreatic cancer in Pennsylvania