SEATTLE — Former KING 5 sports director and three-time Emmy award winner Tony Ventrella passed away Saturday night after a battle with cancer. He was 80 years old.
Ventrella passed away with several family members at his side around 7:30 p.m. They said Ventrella was battling Amyloidosis and was receiving chemotherapy. Ventrella had three kids, five grandkids and one great-grandkid.
Ventrella was the sports director at KING 5 from 1982 to 1994 and is regarded as a sportscasting legend in the Pacific Northwest. He also worked at KIRO TV from 1994 to 2002 before becoming a digital media host with the Seattle Seahawks. During his career, he won three Emmy Awards.
Ventrella was also known to emcee many non-profit events, loved boxing and cutting hair, was involved in politics and authored a book.
"Tony was loved by so many and he brought so much joy to each and every sportscast," said Chris Egan, KING 5 Sports anchor. "I'm proud to say I grew up as a Tony Ventrella fan. In 1993 Tony took time out of his busy KING 5 schedule to talk to me when I was a student at PLU about getting into sports broadcasting. He became a mentor and a role model, but more importantly, Tony Ventrella would become my friend."
