Subscriber Spotlight: Elaine Brumberg

Elaine Brumberg SUBSCRIBER SPOTLIGHT

Elaine Brumberg likes to say her career took her “from beauty to bowling.”

The Pittsburgh-area native worked in the cosmetics industry and was fired for telling someone that they shouldn’t be using the products. She then wrote a national best-selling book called “Save Your Money, Save Your Face,” two more books, and articles for magazines and newspapers.

“The Washington Post dubbed me ‘the Ralph Nader of the cosmetics industry,’” Elaine remembers.

She and her husband Norman (who passed away eight years ago) also owned five bowling centers. When Norman became ill, they sold four of them, but kept one (Thunderbird Lanes in Warminster) and Elaine went to bowling management school. “I love being in the bowling center because I love people,” she says. “I totally renovated the center, hired a food a beverage manager, changed the snack bar to a bar and bistro restaurant, am installing new furniture, and redid the lanes.”

Every Saturday afternoon, Elaine hosts a group of special needs adults and children at Thunderbird Lanes. “A lot of bowling centers don’t want to take special needs children,” Elaine says. “But it’s the most joyous time of my life. I’m very proud of what I’m doing in the bowling business.” Soon, she will begin taking a portable bowling alley to local children’s cancer hospitals to entertain the kids.

Elaine now lives in Mount Laurel with David, whom she calls her “significant other husband.” She has three children, seven grandchildren of her own, and two more with David.

She’s been subscribing to the POPS for about a decade and sits in row K of the orchestra section on Sunday afternoon. “I like to be as close as I can,” she says. “The shows are absolutely incredible.”

Favorite Show: “I loved Uptown Nights with Byron Stripling. He is absolutely amazing. I also loved the recent JAZZED! show.”

Go Bowling: Elaine loves helping groups organize fundraisers and events at her bowling center. Email Will or Steve at bowlingeventswa@comcast.net to get more information.