Ferraro's family, Southern Italian immigrants from Calabria, settled in Ulster County, New York around the turn of the 20th century.
[3] Jack Ferraro took over the business from his father while simultaneously taking up harness racing as a driver, horse trainer and owner.
While Dave picked up his father's love and talent for bowling, his battles with hay fever prevented him from also going into harness racing.
Ferraro began competing in PBA Regional tournaments around the northeast, bowling against the likes of Johnny Petraglia and Teata Semiz[5] before making his first televised appearance on the Pro Bowlers Tour in 1980 at the Long Island Open in Garden City, New York.
"[9] He would win again the next season, beating Brian Voss at the Miller Lite Open in suburban Cleveland and posting three other top-five finishes.
Ferraro overcame an ugly start to the championship match, badly missing a 2–10 split followed by consecutive spares, by stringing five strikes in a row to defeat his tour roommate and best friend Tony Westlake 226–203.
[10] Ferraro continued his solid play in 1992, making nine final rounds and winning at the Johnny Petraglia Open in March and the Active West PBA Open in June on his way to earning the George Young High Average Award and the Harry Smith Point Leader Award.
[12] All told, from 1987–1993 Ferraro won $829,411 on the professional tour and retired as the 17th bowler in PBA history to earn one million dollars in a career.
"[13] Ferraro briefly came back from retirement in 2006 after PBA Commissioner Fred Schreyer awarded him a tour exemption to bowl in the 2006 Columbia 300 Classic, which was held about 135 miles from his home in Kingston in West Babylon, New York.