Judy became a welcome member of the Whitmarsh Family of Peggy and Jack on April 12th, 1943, in the Queen City of Kingston. Signs of a precocious bowling career started flowering eight years later, in the Church Athletic League at Kingston Circle Bowl. Four years later, the local Press named Judy ‘Bowler of the Week’, after she rolled a League Age Group Record Triple of 770 pinfall at age 12. Judy completed that season with a 174 average. The best was yet to be. Three years later at age 15, Judy achieved a 240 average while helping her Ladies Major League Team to the championships; an outstanding skill level for her age, acheived by few Youth Bowlers.
However, Judy’s bowling environment was to change, due to a residency change. The Whitmarsh Family completed their house hunting in 1959, with a move to Willowdale. Judy began her personal house hunting – Bowling House that is, Judy bowled briefly at North Yonge Bowl and Power Lanes before choosing Bowlerama Newtonbrook as her home house.
In her quest for competition, Judy entered the Third Annual O’Connor Bowl Open at age 17. The experience of bowling against bowlers like Hall of Famer, Janet Peel, the eventual tournament winner, whetted Judy’s thirst for Competitive Ladies Bowling. Some years later, Judy joined the Toronto Ladies Majors which offered special challenges as a Travelling League. Bowling at various houses over Metro Toronto, Judy compiled a 240 lifetime average which proved she could compete with the best.
In retrospect, Judy’s life has fulfilled her greatest expectations. The icing on her Bowling Cake, was Judy’s Ten Ontario Open Championship appearances; Six times a Singles Representative and four times on the Ladies Team. Judy’s most memorable experiences were finishing Fifth, 97 pins behind winner, Hamilton’s Midge Fox in 1964 and Second to York West’s Rene Phillips in 1971. The climatic time came in the last five games when Judy rolled over 1400 pinfall to catapult her from Twenty-fourth position to Second place.
Judy, always an enthusiastic house bowler was a member of the Provincial Team competing in the National Classified Championship Finals at Edmonton in 1977.
Judy, filled her sports calendar with a night of Ten Pin Bowling averaging 186 over 8 years and a summer of Fastball in the North York Ladies League. An appearance on the TV show “Bowling For Dollars” made her sports life varied and interesting.
Family life was the priority in Judy’s life after she married Tony Rollich in 1966. Children, Stephen and Kim came into the picture and were the reason Judy did not choose to bowl on the Master Bowlers Tour, this would involve weekends away from the children.
Judy’s bowling life ended at age 36, because of a Skidoo accident. Subsequently, Judy turned her interests towards the Youth Bowling Council Program her children were involved in. In 1985, Judy travelled to Burnaby B.C. to watch Stephen compete in the Senior Boys National Singles Championships. Later in 1989, Judy watched daughter Kim, perform on the Gold Medalist Team, at the Winter Games in North Bay. Kim later finished Second in the Master’s Bursary Tournament in Kitchener.
Judy credits her mother Peggy for encouraging her positive focus on life and sports with her friend and coach, Mel Ward dropping balls behind her in practice to help her concentration.
Judy says she has always focused on participation as opposed to acheiving high scores, though she has bowled several 400s and 998 triple.
Judy with sister Jane and brothers Mike and Bob, are all family oriented through their parents values, which Judy reflects in her life choices. Judy has completed fourteen years with the Toronto District School Board after her days as a stay at home Mom ended with her children’s maturity. Judy and Tony are proud Grand Parents to six year old Jamie Ann and three year old Jack.
Judy is still an avid York Simcoe Supporter and can be seen occasionally on an Easter Week-end in Hamilton cheering on our contingent and possibly thinking if she had scored an extra few strikes, she could have been a Open Singles Champion twice.
Judy just did it her way and has no regrets, York Simcoe welcomes a worthy and deserving entry into the York Simcoe Hall of Fame.