WEEDSPORT - Yesterday, Al Rizzo celebrated his 90th birthday.

“I was born in 1917,” Rizzo said. “I don't really feel any different than I did 10 years ago. I had to have a pacemaker put in a while ago and I feel really good. If anything I feel better now than I have in the past 10 years.”

For nearly 50 of his 90 years, Rizzo has been involved with bowling to one degree or another.

Rizzo, a Geneva native, ran a dry cleaning business in Geneva when he began taking an interest in the game.

“I worked for Finger Lakes Laundry and Dry Cleaning,” Rizzo said. “And they had a team and I was on it. I liked it, but then it was just bowling. I didn't really get too involve din it until my brother in law and nephew got interested in opening up a bowling business.”

Initially Rizzo had just planned on getting involved as an investor, but it didn't take long before his plans changed.

At first Rizzo and his nephew Dewey Antinelli, looked into opening an alley in the Clifton Springs area, but as fate would have it that site was not be.

“We were all ready to build,” Rizzo said. “And right across the street a new 24 lane alley went up, that was just six months before construction was ready to begin.”

But it wasn't long before another opportunity would present itself in Weedsport.

“I didn't even know where Weedsport was located at the time,” Rizzo confessed. “But the chance to open a place in this area opened up and we thought that it would be a good idea and we have been here ever since.”

It was 1960 when Rainbow Lanes first opened its doors and for the past 47 years the lanes have been a permanent fixture in Weedsport.

For 25 years, Rizzo made the commute back and forth from Geneva, but it proved to be well worth it as the lanes began to boom.

“That was really a peak in bowling,” Rizzo said. “When we started it was 35 cents a game, three games for a dollar. People would wait three or four hours just to bowl a game and get a lane. There were times when we had to limit it to two games so everybody could get a chance. We really opened up at the right time.”

During this time, Rizzo really began to take a far more active interest in the game, bowling three to four times a week with various teams.

“I was better than average,” Rizzo said. “My high game was 279 and I had several 700 series games. I never hit 300, but that was pretty rare in those days. I really enjoyed it, but for the most part I was too busy with the business side of things to get too involved in bowling then, but I had a lot of fun.”

From a business perspective, Rizzo said the lanes were always fairly successful and played host to numerous leagues and youth programs over the years.

“We did a lot to promote the sport,” Rizzo said. “We had a lot of junior bowling here and we had a lot of school leagues. I don't know why they didn't keep those going. I thought they were great and could've been really successful.

But to this day I'll see people who came here as junior bowlers and now they are bringing in their children and grandchildren, it is really nice to see.”

For his contributions, Rizzo was inducted into the Auburn Bowling Association Hall of Fame 10 years ago.

“That was great,” Rizzo said. “It was a really nice honor to get in the hall of fame.”

Until the early 90s, Rizzo was still partners in Rainbow Lanes with his nephew, when Rizzo bought Antinelli out.

All through the years, Rizzo's son, Ron, was working along side his father.

“He was always interested in the business,” Rizzo said. “And he is a really good bowler too. He worked with me all these years. So when I decided it was time for me to retire I gave the business to him. I think we are one of the only family businesses in the area. It has been nice to keep this a family business.”

But Rizzo isn't one to take the idea of retirement completely literally.

To this day he still spends three or four hours a day at the lanes, often manning the kitchen.

He also stays busy on the lanes.

“I still bowl three times a week,” Rizzo said.

“I'm in two leagues and a mixed league on Sunday night. It keeps me from getting old. I like to stay active. I golf a couple times a week too, so I stay pretty busy. I like that; I think it has really helped keep me in good health to stay busy like I do.”