Jean Spry has spent her entire life in the Cobourg area.  Born in 1933, Jean married her husband, Murray, some 20 years later and to this day, they are married 65 years.  Along with the birth of two children, Gary and Debbie, Jean joined the local ladies bowling league at the old Cobourg Lanes, located on Spencer Street and owned by Walter Wright Sr.

In the early sixties, both Gary and Debbie joined the Youth Bowling Council (YBC) program that was just starting at the lanes and, following Don Pratt, Jean became the Program Director in 1970, a position she held for over 45 years, until her retirement in 2017.

By the 1980’s, the bowling centre moved to the Northumberland Mall and the first proprietor was Isabel Knielands.  At the height of its popularity, there were more than 200 YBC registrations in the 24 lane center.

With the youth program well established, Jean, along with a local bowler, Ron Jones, started the decentralized association, aptly called the Cobourg 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association and, to this day, Jean continues in her role as the one and only president of the association.

Once again, following the successful launch of the decentralized association, Jean was asked to join the Great Pine Ridge Association which was operating under the leadership of Hall of Famer Dave Post.  Jean served as Treasurer and Membership chair for many years as the Great Pine Ridge zone became an active and valuable piece of the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association (O5PBA) organization.

Jean’s bowling skills were also on the rise and, over time, she bowled some of the highest scores ever recorded in Cobourg with a 408 single and a 1022 triple.  In 35 years in the Master Bowlers’ Association (MBA), Jean was victorious in the 1996 Master Junior tournament along with her junior partners, Daniel Abrams and Lisa English.  In addition, Jean has bowled in 22 provincial opens, beginning with a ladies team in 1977 and continuing until 2012 and her last appearance on an Ontario Durham senior team.

Outside the home, Jean worked with Mill Valley Trophies, located in Port Hope.  Using this knowledge, Jean opened her own trophy business and, as Jean’s Trophies, accommodated the local bowling leagues as well as the high schools and other sports teams from her home base.

Jean has been honoured extensively for her lifetime of achievement, beginning with her “years of service” pins for 40 years of volunteering with the O5PBA and the MBA.  She is a Life Member of the Ontario Durham 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association, a recipient of a volunteer service award from the Government of Canada and, in 2009, a community service award from the Province of Ontario.

Jean Spry is the perfect example of a local volunteer who became a driving force in the establishment and growth of organized bowling in her hometown of Cobourg and beyond.