For parts of four decades, Tony Ventrella was a fixture of the Seattle sports media landscape, known for his endearing optimism and friendliness, and a quirky sense of humor that brought the combo of information and entertainment to his broadcasts.
Ventrella died on Saturday after a battle with cancer, years removed from the last time he was a nightly fixture in our homes as part of the evening news broadcasts. His passing was shared by the TV stations and teams he worked for on social media on Sunday. Ventrella was 80 years old.
Ventrella’s son Peter posted a message on social media announcing his father’s passing: “It is with a very heavy heart that it was my Dad’s time to go do the great sportscast in the sky. He was loved by many, and died peacefully last night surrounded by loved ones. I will miss you Dad.”
Ventrella came to Seattle from WANE-TV in Fort Wayne, Indiana. His first stop in Seattle was with KOMO-TV, but Ventrella became a fixture at every venue and with every franchise when he moved across town as the sports anchor at KING-TV.
“The dedication of all the people I worked with in those days was beyond the moon. It really was. I worked with a lot of great people,” Ventrella said as part of a video celebrating KING’s history in 2018.
Ventrella continued: “There was a dedication to covering stories at any expense. It just didn’t matter. You went and covered whatever you covered just to get it right. It was exciting. It was an exciting time for all of us.”
Ventrella spent 12 years at KING from 1982-94 before moving across town to KIRO-TV. Ventrella was part of a trio of colorful local sports anchors who ruled the market in the 1980s that included Bruce King at KOMO and Wayne Cody at KIRO.
“Tony was the perfect sportscaster for his era. He created fun, quirky franchises like ‘Wrestling Hold Of The Week,’ and was never afraid to go a little overboard,” current KING-TV sports anchor Paul Silvi said. “He had the ability to make us laugh, but he also had the knowledge to make us a little smarter as sports fans.”
Ventrella worked at KIRO until 2002. He spent a couple of years at KCPQ, rounding out stops at all four major stations in Seattle, before joining the Seahawks in 2008 as an in-house digital reporter and did some work for the Sounders also. Ventrella was with the Seahawks through the 2015 season.
Ventrella also did work on radio and hosted countless nonprofit events during his career.
“We are saddened by the passing of our friend Tony Ventrella. As a fixture in our community and sports media landscape for more than 40 years, Tony had a deep passion for the City of Seattle and Seattle sports. His positivity and love for others will be remembered by all. We will miss you, TV,” the Seahawks posted in a statement.
The Sounders added: “Tony was renown for his kindness and passion for our area teams, including his time as an on-camera host for Sounders FC. He will be deeply missed, and our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time. Thank you for everything, Tony.”
After leaving the Seahawks, Ventrella ran for the U.S. House seat for the 8th Congressional District in 2016, but lost to current gubernatorial candidate Dave Reichert in the general election. Ventrella initially suspended his campaign, only to earn the nomination out of the primary election.
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