Nazareth Laursen

Few individuals have made an impact on Staten Island bowling as complete as Nazareth Laursen, whose extraordinary career has been distinguished by excellence on the lanes and decades of dedicated service to the sport.

Long before her historic championship run, Laursen had established herself among Staten Island's premier women bowlers, regularly carrying averages approaching 200 and producing some of the area's top league and tournament scores throughout the 1980s.

Her greatest mark came in the Staten Island Women's Bowling Association Championship Tournament.  Laursen captured the All Events championship in three consecutive years — 1988, 1989 and 1990 — becoming the first bowler in tournament history to accomplish the feat.  Her first came in 1988, beginning a remarkable championship run that helped lead to her induction into the Hall of Fame for Superior Performance in 1997.

Her success continued for decades.  Laursen captured a fourth All Events title in 1996, a year that also saw her claim both the Singles Net and Singles Gross championships.  She added her fifth All Events championship in 2007, tying Peggy Garbarino for the most All Events titles in tournament history.

Across a remarkable span from 1988 through 2023, Laursen amassed 22 Women's Championship titles, including five All Events, three Singles, three Doubles and eleven Team championships, placing her second on the tournament's all-time championship list.  Among those victories were consecutive Team titles in 2010 and 2011 while bowling alongside her daughters Lizabeth, Nazareth and Lisa.

As exceptional as her accomplishments have been on the lanes, Laursen's contributions to bowling extend far beyond her own performance.

For decades, she has served Staten Island bowling in nearly every capacity imaginable.  Through the Staten Island Women's Bowling Association, Young American Bowling Alliance and Staten Island USBC, Laursen has served as a Director, Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms, Delegate to the State and National Conventions, chaired numerous committees, and devoted countless hours to the administration and advancement of the sport.  She was instrumental in the transition that created the Staten Island USBC and has remained a driving force in its youth programs and tournaments.

A Silver Level certified coach, Laursen has served as Youth Committee Chair and Youth Tournament Manager.  She has also served for many years as an assistant coach with the Curtis High School girls bowling team, helping guide the program to multiple city championships.

Her commitment extends into the community as well.  Laursen was instrumental in the creation of Staten Island's Bowling Against Breast Cancer campaign, an initiative that began through the SIWBA and continues to raise funds for local breast health projects.  Her service and community involvement have also earned recognition from organizations including the Salvation Army and American Cancer Society.

Laursen has also spent much of her professional career serving bowlers as the longtime manager of Rab's Country Lanes and owner of Country Pro Shop & Awards Center, where her commitment to leagues, tournaments, youth bowling and the Staten Island bowling community has touched generations.

In 2012, Laursen returned to the Hall of Fame, this time earning induction for Meritorious Service.