Born in Fano, Italy, Primo Falcioni used his bocce skills from his native land to become an instant success on the bowling lanes. Primo arrived in Toronto in 1952 and, in his first year of 5 pin bowling, won the high average title at St. Clair Bowl which was located at the corner of St. Clair and Dufferin. While new in the city of Toronto, Primo had many friends who were also emigrating to Canada at this time. Bowlers such as Primo Vagnini, Gord Longarini, Tom Lenzi, Vic Terminisi and Mario Mannelli were improving their talents in preparation for major league play. Primo was the first to join the City Major League on the Bowling Displays Team under the captaincy of Walter Mulholland. In the next two years, the Italian connection began to take shape beginning with St. Clair Recreation in 1957, Surget Macaroni in 1958, before the Darrigo’s sponsorship began in 1959.

Under the captaincy of Tom Lenzi, this group were a powerful force in the league and bowled together until the league folded in 1969.

Primo’s family joined him in Canada in 1953 and bowling became his passion. Primo bowled seventy-five to eighty games a week at St. Clair Bowl and with Primo Vagnini dominated the local sweeps.

As early as 1961, he qualified for the Canadian championships in Toronto and, using an all star format, bowled nationally with Hall of Famer John Scholes, John Trott, Jim Lacey, Phil Gunn and Grace MacDonald. Primo won a second provincial championship in 1964 and bowled unsuccessfully for the national championship in Regina. Illustrating the longevity of his career, Primo qualified again in 1985 with the Lake Ontario men’s team and, while again missing the national title, he did witness a rare perfect game by his teammate, Herman Wessels.

In the early sixties, bowling was a weekly fixture on CBC from O’Connor Bowl and Primo appeared three times. His opponents were perennial O’Connor Bowl favourites Andre Morrissette, Si Rizun and George Barber.

All events tournaments were a popular weekend activity for the Darringo’s team as they barnstormed through Peterborough, Waterloo, Oshawa and several other tournament sites and records were established at Waterloo that stood throughout the 1960’s. As well, in a 1964 event, Primo bowled his only perfect game in 1964 at Playtime Bowl in Toronto.

While Primo’s business interests curtailed his entry into the Master Bowlers’ Association, he enjoyed tournament play whenever possible. While winning several events, Primo also remembers his 3026 score at the Cataract Open in Niagara Falls that was 13 pins short of Hall of Famer Holly Leet and also a second place finish to another Hall of Famer, Joe Chiki, at the Nickel City Open in Sudbury.

Primo has several high average titles at Village Bowl in Port Credit and his highest marks were 260 both in 1969-70 and 1971-72. But Primo always saved his best for the Open and especially preferred Sherwood Centre in Hamilton. In all, since 1965, Primo qualified for 14 Opens with 4 appearances in the singles. As well as winning the provincial championship in 1985, Primo was first in the singles qualifying in 1983, only to lose in the final stepladder game to Wayne Hein. Primo’s last appearance and not necessarily his final one, was on the 1995 Lake Ontario mixed team at the young age of 74.

Primo was a tailor by trade and would eventually operate two stores, Villa Men’s Wear in the Jane Finch Plaza and Huron Men’s Wear on Highway 10 in Mississauga. This business venture allowed Primo to sponsor several times and his favourite was the Huron Men’s Wear team that dominated major league play at Village Bowl in Port Credit. Along with the two Primos, Falcioni and Vagnini, teammates were Stan Liessi, Mino Montanari and John Mattioli and Frank Boiani. The latter two individuals were also born in Primo’s home town of Famo, Italy but never bowled before coming to Canada.

Unfortunately, Primo didn’t join the Master Bowlers Association until 1982. However, despite being in his early sixties, still managed a 250 average for five seasons.

Primo and his wife, Gianna, raised two children Gastone, and Miriam, and there are now five grandchildren as well. Sadly, Gianna died in 1995, just days after their fiftieth wedding anniversary and just prior to a return trip to Italy.

Today, Primo, now 76, has overcome some physical problems and this year bowls in three leagues, Monday at Bramalea, Wednesday with his Italian colleagues at Royal York and Saturdays with the best bowlers, back in the Toronto Major League.