Former KING 5 sports director Tony Ventrella passes away

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.

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/former-king-5-sports-director-tony-ventrella-passes-away/281-f35e63dd-5618-4629-bf31-ee2559ef5c99

I met him once. Didn't realize he was that old.