Since joining the ranks as an adult bowler John has devoted his whole life as a builder to his chosen sport of five-pin bowling and we will be forever grateful.
Born, September 26, 1963 in Willowdale, first child for parents Margo and Jim, John has spent most of his life in Richmond Hill. While growing up in town he attended Walter Scott and Jefferson Public Schools and attended Richmond Hill High School.
John’s career as a volunteer and a builder of five-pin bowling began, like many, through the guidance and influence he received from his Dad, and good friends Jack Hill and Owen Moreau.
Through his Dad, a twice a week bowler himself, John was introduced to the Youth Bowling Council at ABC Bowl, home of Hall of Fame Proprietors, Frank and Pauline Price. After graduating from the YBC, John continued his bowling life in the Friday Night Majors league, along with his Dad. It was here, at ABC, where John would meet Owen Moreau, a gentlemen who would become instrumental in John’s future bowling career.
It all began during the 85-86 bowling season. Jack Hill, who John already knew through the YBC, introduced him to the Master Bowlers’ Association. At the same time, his other good friend and mentor, Owen Moreau asked if John would be interested in coaching one of the York Simcoe Open teams. You see, Owen was a member of the Men’s team that year, which was to represent the Zone at the OV Open Bowling Championships in Hamilton and, with a shortage of coaches, asked John if he would be interested in coaching his team. In total John was a Master bowler for eight years and has coached six Open teams, four Men’s teams and two Mixed teams.
While the Masters and the Open were a part of John’s life, it was his dedication and involvement with the sport itself that has lead John to where he is today. Again, Owen, who had been involved with the York Simcoe zone and had worked his way from House Rep and Tournament Director to Vice-President and ultimately President in 1986, was looking for someone to take over the strenuous task as Tournament Director. He didn’t have to look far, as John, in his first year as a director, became the new Tournament Director for York Simcoe. In the years that followed, John would quickly work his way to the top. Along the way, John received top provincial honours, as Treasurer in 1993 and as President and Zone of the Year in 1997 and again in 2002.
At the provincial level, after being elected to the board in 1996, John served as chair of numerous committees including Awards, Record Scores, Incentive and Constitution at the same time as being a committee member on tournaments, Human Resources, Publicity and Communications. John advanced to the position of Vice President in 2003 and, in 2011, after Dave Post moved on to become the Canadian 5 President, John was a natural to take his place. Today, John is in his 30th year as a volunteer, and fourth year as President of the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association and is also Constitution Chair and Bingo Coordinator at the Zone level.
Family life became a priority in John’s life, in the summer of 1987, after his marriage to Heather Walsh. Heather had two small children from a previous marriage, which John immediately adopted as his own. While the two of them added two more boys to complete the Cresswell family, John quickly learned about the trials and tribulations of raising a family. This past October, they celebrated the marriage of their daughter. Both boys, A.J. and J.M. acted as ushers at big sisters’ wedding and watched carefully as Cheryl married the love of her life, Luigi Mirabella, making sure that everything went just the way Cheryl wanted it to. Now, in his spare time, besides golf, horseshoes and online poker, John has a son-in-law that he can sit down with and watch and cheer for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
John’s leadership, administrative skills and his attention to detail has made him a valued member of not only the York Simcoe 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association but also the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association. With tonight’s induction, John has the distinction of being elected into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility and along with his wife Heather, through their combined efforts at the zone level, become the third husband and wife team to receive this honour.