Mr. Grand Slam of Bowling, Joe Cawlina
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Joseph E. Cawlina, age 93 of E. Wakefield, NH formerly of Lynn, MA on Friday, February 21, 2025, after an illness. Born and raised in Lynn, he was the beloved son of the late Joseph and Mary (Krawczyk) Cawlina, and the brother of the late Frances Cawlina and Chester Cawlina. He lived in Lynn for most of his life, graduating from Lynn Classical High (Class of 1948) and worked at the family owned and operated West Lynn Recycling Company on Commercial Street and then, Turner Trucking before moving to New Hampshire after retirement.
He met his future wife and love of his life, Barbara Jane Mansfield, in 1950 at the West Lynn Post Office Bowling Alley. They bowled together and captured the Huntington Mixed Doubles Title before marrying in 1954 and shared 67 wonderful years before Barbara Jane passed in 2021.
Joe’s competitive Candlepin bowling career spanned from 1948 to 1961. In 1956, he achieved the highest average ever recorded in Candlepin, and from 1957 to 1961, world crowns became synonymous with the name Cawlina. Joe won the United States men’s singles and all-events titles, men’s double titles, men’s five-man team titles, and paired with his wife Barbara (LCHS Class of 1949) to win the United States mixed double’s titles. The “Mr. Grand Slam” label was befitting. With no more Candlepins to conquer, Joe retired in 1961, but not before successfully making the transition from Candlepin to Tenpin, where he continued his successful bowling career. Joe might be the only professional bowler to compete in both at the same time, which he did in 1960 and 1961. Joe was inducted into the Candlepin Hall of Fame in 1981 and the Tenpin Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2018, he was inducted into the Lynn Classical High Hall of Fame.
Joe’s athletic talents and passion also included golf, where he was the Club Champion at Colonial Country Club in Lynnfield, MA and later at the Province Lake Country Club in Parsonsfield, ME.
Joe and Barbara retired to Great East Lake, in East Wakefield, NH and spent many wonderful years with his caring and thoughtful neighbors and golfing buddies. Sincere thanks to Joe’s Great East Lake friends who always took time to sit and chat with him. He cherished their visits and the beautiful views of the lake. Neighborhood dogs would be sure to stop by for their treats on a daily basis. Joe loved walking through the woods searching for firewood and lost cats, as well as instructing his family members on their golf strokes. He enjoyed teasing (and being lovingly teased) by the Gafney Library staff about books not being returned on time. It was a place where he and Barbara spent a great deal of time in their later years.
Joe was known for his dry wit, humor and contagious smile as he often praised those around him for ‘looking good’, always putting smiles on his recipients’ faces! He often told people that his mother couldn’t believe how anyone couldn’t love him!
He is survived by his 5 children; Richard (Susan), Michael (Leila), Barbara Ann Luby (Tom), Scott (Terry), Nancy Vaughan (Tom), 9 grandchildren; Drew (Margie), Alison, Katie (Brett), Jesse, Daniel, Aimee (Nicole), Jason, Jake, Sophie, 2 great grandchildren Emilio and Hayden, and sister-in-law, Helen Goldberg (wife Barbara’s sister) .
Thank you to Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley and Wellspring Village at Brightview/Concord River for their caring staff and attention. Casper Funeral and Cremation Services is assisting the family with arrangements. Family and friends are invited to join in celebrating Joe’s life and legacy at noon on Saturday, March 8 at Gannon Municipal Golf Club, Great Woods Road, Lynn, MA.