ROTTERDAM Bocce court to be dedicated in name of devoted player Facility is fully accessible to all comers BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net.
Toni Volpicelli’s husband Ralph was so devoted to playing bocce that he’d play once a week, rain or shine, from his wheelchair. The sport was one of the few that the Rotterdam man could play with friends. “Sometimes it would be raining out and off he’d go,” his wife recalled Thursday. “He was always ready for it.” Ralph Volpicelli Sr. was the inspiration two years ago behind the Rotterdam Sunrise Rotary Club’s construction of the state’s first public, handicap-accessible bocce court in Eunice O. Esposito Park. The court was created 5 feet wider than ordinary courts and with a gate on the rear entrance for wheelchair access. Up until his death from lung cancer five months ago, Volpicelli would almost religiously travel with friends to the court. His widow said the weekly trips were among his most cherished moments late in life: exercising, getting outside and sharing stories with his friends. “He loved it,” she recalled. “He loved to play.” Town and Rotary officials will officially dedicate the court in his name at noon Saturday. During a ceremony at the park, the club will present a plaque to the Volpicelli family and hang one in the park. “Ralph was instrumental, just by his condition, for us to build this thing,” said Ron Masi, a former president of the club. Bocce is a precision sport similar to lawn bowling, in which balls are rolled on a soil or asphalt court. The sport can be played between two people or teams of two or four. Volpicelli played before developing multiple sclerosis in his 30s. The disease left him without the use of the left side of his body but with a strong right arm. In 2005, Volpicelli’s cousin, Gus Scalise, suggested building the specially equipped court for the disabled people of Rotterdam. Materials and labor were donated by the town and area businesses. Masi said he’s since seen several disabled people using the court. But he suspects even more people would use it if they knew about it. He’s now trying to organize a bocce league with the six Rotary organizations in Schenectady County. Eventually, he hopes to get word out to all of the 43 Rotary clubs in his district, which spans as far as Lake George. “I think if we make people aware of it, we’ll get more people using it,” he said.
I think that Bocce is one of those dying 'sports'. Although we have bocce along with horse shoes at all of our outdoor, summer family functions. But at a park.....hmmmm.....I don't think it will be a major draw.
It was a nice story and I appreciate the sentiment. As far as a it being a possible attraction for future bocce players...I'm not so sure.
I was doing some work down to the old ALCO plant years ago and when it was time for lunch many of the workers would play bocce on one of the cinder roads near the left rear side of one of the buildings.
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