The quote “Behind every great man, there is a greater woman” could be applied to Doreen Kyte.
Born Doreen James on June 21, 1951 in Newmarket, the fourth child to parents Doug and Marie, she grew up in Markham with siblings Earle, Brian, Cheryl, Barbara and Donna. Her Dad Doug worked for the hydro company and in 1959 had an on the job accident, where he was electrocuted. The family moved to Willowdale (Bathurst and Steeles) when Doreen was 18. Her younger brother Mike was the last addition to the family. Doug and Marie remained here until their passing in 2003 and 2007 respectively.
Growing up her preferred sport was baseball. She was not introduced to bowling until the age of 21, when her friend Diane Woolley, whom she had known since Grade 8 at Woodland Acres Public School in Thornhill, brought her to ABC Bowl where they joined the Wednesday Night Mixed League. What are the odds that both ladies would meet their perspective husbands in the same league as Doreen was placed on a team with a young man named Mike Kyte, and Diane met Owen. On September 11, 1976, Mike and Doreen tied the knot and it wouldn’t be long until they completed their family, having daughters Michelle in June 1979 and Diana in December 1983.
It was Mike’s involvement in bowling that influenced Doreen the most to become involved. She joined York Simcoe in 1976 and has since served in many capacities, including Chair of the Lottery, Nevada sales, Strike-It-Big, Membership, Average Book, Booster, Record Scores and Tournament Director. She has done her job very well, as over the years she has earned 11 awards at the O5PBA Annual General Meeting in June, one as the Strike-It-Big Chair, two as Tournament Director, three as Membership Chair and five as Average Book Co-Coordinator. She also volunteers her time at the Bingo hall to help raise funds for the York Simcoe youth and senior bowlers. She still attends our monthly meetings as a Board member looking after Record Scores and the Booster Club.
At the same time, she also joined the Master Bowlers’ Association where she spent 25 years as a Teaching Master, qualifying once for the Ladies National Team, where they competed in Ottawa.
She also has two Open appearances, once in 1979 on the Ladies Team and again in 1982 on the Mixed Team.
Her career also includes over 20 years as a Y.B.C. secretary and over 20 years as the secretary for the Friday Night Mixed League. Doreen is currently also doing the books for the Friday Morning Seniors at Pro Bowl. York Simcoe also recognized her hard work as she received the Jack Hill Memorial Executive of the Year Award three times, in the 2006/07, 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons. In October of 2015, the Town of Richmond Hill rewarded her dedication to our sport, as she and Mike were inducted to the Richmond Hill Sports Hall of Fame. Through all of this, she managed to squeeze in a 38-year career as Unit Secretary at the York Central Hospital in Richmond Hill, retiring in August of 2012.
In her free time, Doreen likes to read and take occasional side trips to the casinos. With her daughter Michelle, the two took karate lessons. Their instructor was none other than Doreen’s brother Mike. After several years of instruction, Doreen had to stop due to a back injury.
On May 12, 2012, Doreen welcomed a son-in-law to the family as Diana married Jay Fendley and it was on December 12, 2015 that her grandson Xander was born.
Both Mike and Doreen have retired from their respective jobs, but are both still very active in bowling as she still serves as secretary on Friday Nights and as a York Simcoe Board member. Mike has become the Tournament Director for the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association and Doreen can be found at most tournaments volunteering her time selling the cash draw tickets. She is also a Certified Tournament Director so she is able to work as a Judge of Play at the Open and the Ontario Senior Citizens Singles and Doubles tournaments. We are thankful for your dedication to our sport and are very pleased to welcome you into the Builders’ Division of the York Simcoe Hall of Fame.