Senator Jim Tedisco joined the family of Joseph Gentiluomo in Schenectady to mark Gentiluomo’s 103rd birthday. Gentiluomo, a World War II U.S. Army veteran, is known for holding the patent on the modern bowling ball.
Gentiluomo served in Okinawa and Korea during World War II. He is a graduate of RPI and worked at GE and IBM, earning 28 patents throughout his career. Among these are inventions for different golf balls and a mechanical hand that was used by NASA. His bowling ball patent changed the sport by placing all the weight inside the ball, which gives bowlers more power.
In 2023, Senator Tedisco inducted Gentiluomo into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame and presented him with the Liberty Medal, which is described as the Senate’s highest honor.
“Happy 103rd Birthday to the Capital Region’s very own American hero and modern bowling ball inventor Joseph Gentiluomo, a member of the ‘Greatest Generation’ of Americans who defeated tyranny in World War II and set the course for decades of prosperity for our country,” said Senator Jim Tedisco.
Gentiluomo served from 1942 to 1946 under the 59th Service Group. After completing basic training, he attended the National School of Aeronautics in Kansas City before working at airfields in Santa Maria, Sacramento, San Bernadino, and in California’s Mojave Desert. During his time stationed in the Pacific theater, he serviced B-24 Liberator bombers on Angaur Island in Palau and later Okinawa. His work helped keep fellow service members safe during campaigns across several regions including the Philippines and Western Pacific.
After Japan’s surrender, his unit moved to Seoul for post-war occupation duty. Throughout his service, Gentiluomo received several commendations: American Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, and World War II Victory Medal.
Gentiluomo was married to Orega Gentiluomo for 67 years until her passing. He has two children along with three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
