Eileen Luba

Celebrating a Legend: Eileen Luba Inducted into the Northeast Division Hall of Fame (2026)

The Northeast Division (NED) has officially named Eileen to its Lawn Bowling Hall of Fame. While her competitive resume is legendary, Eileen has always maintained that her proudest achievement isn’t the trophies - it’s the legacy of the game she helped save, protect, and grow.

Saving the Greens in Pittsburgh
Eileen’s remarkable 45-year journey began in Santa Clara, CA, in 1979, where she first fell in love with the sportsmanship, gentleness, and ever-changing strategy of lawn bowls. When she and her partner, Hank, moved to Pittsburgh in 1983, they found the Frick Park Lawn Bowling Club in severe decline - operating under insular "house rules" on a green being mown with a city riding mower.

Armed with their own California bowls and Hank’s natural salesmanship, they set out to modernize the club, reintroduce official rules, and establish inter-club play. When a municipal fiscal crisis threatened to shutter the facilities in 1992, Eileen and Hank led the charge to privatize the club, raise vital funds, buy proper equipment, and take direct responsibility for maintaining the greens in Point Breeze.

A Champion on the National Stage
Despite Pittsburgh being hours away from major lawn bowling hubs, Eileen’s competitive drive knew no borders. Alongside her long-time friend and bowls partner, Lois Saladin, Eileen represented both the Central Division and the NED at the highest levels. Her stunning on-green resume includes:

• 15 appearances at the US Championships

• Dozens of National Open appearances across every division in the country

• 2003 US Championship Winner in Pairs with Lois Saladin, wearing the NED Navy at Pinehurst

• 1999 National Open Rinks Champion alongside Lois Saladin, Patty Grabowski, and Jesse Saunders

• 2005 Bowler of the Year (BOY), making history as the first woman to win the honor in the Northeast Division

• Multiple selections to Team NED for the East Coast Challenge

A Legacy of Service
Off the green, Eileen has served the sport tirelessly as an NED Councilor, Division Treasurer, National Umpire, Certified Coach, and executive officer of her home club. Reflecting on her induction, Eileen shared that lawn bowls have given her far more riches in lifelong friendships than she could ever give back. We disagree - Eileen’s 45 years of grit, passion, and mentorship are the reason the game is alive and well today in Pittsburgh and beyond.

Congratulations, Eileen, on this richly deserved honor!