Key Takeaways
- Tony Ventrella became a licensed barber and ran his shop while pursuing media interests.
- His broadcasting career began in the 1970s, leading him to roles at WANE-TV, KING-5, and KIRO-7.
- He was a digital media host for the Seattle Seahawks from 2008 to 2016.
Tony Ventrella was a well-known American sports broadcaster, journalist, and motivational speaker who spent over 40 years in the media industry, primarily shaping the Seattle sports scene.
Born in the summer of 1944 in Connecticut, Ventrella passed away on October 19, 2024, at the age of 80, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Throughout his career, he was a beloved figure in Seattle, known for his positive energy and deep passion for sports. ​
Ventrella grew up in a small New England town, later moving to Wilton, Connecticut, in 1953, where his father built a Cape Cod-style house on two acres of land.
He was one of five children born to his parents, Mary Louise and Anthony Ventrella.
His childhood was marked by a close relationship with his younger sister, Bunny, who tragically passed away at age 10 from cystic fibrosis.
As a kid, Tony loved playing baseball and football, and when his friends weren’t around, he’d make up his games in his big yard.
For his education, he attended Wilton High School from 1959 to 1962 and then briefly studied at Tri-City Barber College from 1960 to 1961.
He then attended CT State Norwalk from 1962 to 1965, studying speech communications and drama while maintaining a 3.5 GPA as a part-time student.
Following in his father’s footsteps and after his graduation, Tony became a licensed barber and even ran his barbershop.
While running the Village Barber Shop in Wilton, Tony also began writing sports articles for the Wilton Bulletin.
His interest in media grew more robust, leading him to pursue radio broadcasting.
On weekends, he would drive 25 miles to Brookfield for a Sunday night radio shift, earning just two dollars an hour, but he loved every minute of it.
Tony’s broadcasting career took off in the late 1970s. In 1977, he joined WANE-TV as a sports director, serving there until 1981.
Then, in February 1982, he became a sports anchor for KING-5 TV in Seattle, where he spent over 12 years.
In August 1994, Tony transitioned to KIRO-7 Television, where he continued his work as a sports anchor for another eight years, leaving a lasting impression on his colleagues like Steve Raible, Susan Hutcheson, and Happy Wappler.
In 2008, he took on a new challenge as the Seattle Seahawks’ digital media host, a role he held until 2016.
There, he produced and appeared in online content for both the Seahawks and Sounders FC, covering games, practices, and community events involving players and coaches.
Throughout his 40-year career, Tony won three Emmy Awards, showcasing his remarkable talent and devotion to broadcasting.
Ventrella was also an active public speaker and author outside of sports journalism.
He wrote several books, including “Smile in the Mirror” (2001) and “Here’s Smiling at You” (2017).
He even briefly ventured into politics, running for Congress in Washington’s 8th Congressional District in 2016, though his main passion remained sports and media.
On the personal side, Ventrella was married twice and had three children with whom he maintained a close relationship. He also had seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild, and one of his sons is named Peter Ventrella.
Tony lived with his wife, Mika, and their two cats, Rocky and Pinky, before his demise.
Tony’s passing in 2024 marked the end of a remarkable career, but his legacy continues through the countless lives he touched – both on and off the screen.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Tony Ventrella once turned down a job offer in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in favor of working in Seattle to be closer to family.
- He was committed to the philosophy of “Keep Moving Forward” in both his personal and professional life.
