Just a little get-together for ‘Catfish’

Originally published in The Seattle Times, May 18, 1972

By John J. Reddin

A group of Black Diamond old-timers held a “little get-together” in the Black Diamond Eagles’ Hall Saturday for their old buddy, “Catfish.”

To thousands of Seattleites “Catfish” is better known as Ed Banchero, popular owner of E & E Meats, 1007 Olive Way, one of the city’s biggest meat wholesalers and restaurant suppliers as well as shipper of frozen meat to customers throughout Alaska.

But to those who have known Banchero ever since he was born in a log cabin near what is now the center of Black Diamond and later almost drowned in nearby Lake 14, he forever after was known as “Catfish.”

For years, Banchero sponsored amateur teams in virtually every sport throughout the Seattle area. Generous, friendly, and as comfortable as an old shoe, Eddie Banchero is probably one of the best-known and best-liked persons in all of King County.

Earlier last week, Ed’s younger brother, Ralph, called to invite me to “a little get-together for a few of Eddie’s old friends.” He implied that it would be an informal luncheon for a dozen or so.

E & E Meats sponsored local baseball teams. These items are on display at the Black Diamond Museum.

Before the luncheon, Ed and I toured the family’s 50-acre farm near the outskirts of Black Diamond with its 40 head of beef cattle and rich pastureland. Some of it is honey-combed deep underground with long-deserted mine shafts from the coal mines that created communities such as Black Diamond, Ravensdale, and many others in the once-booming, coal-rich area.

We also visited the venerable Black Diamond Bakery with its quaint brick oven that produces the loaves of crusty French bread that people from Seattle and Western Washington drives many miles to buy.

By the time we arrived at the Black Diamond’s Fraternal Order of Eagles building, a good-size crowd had gathered. The “little get-together” had grown to more than 100, mostly male and predominately Italian.

A Seattle delegation included many mutual friends—guys such as Al Bianchi, attorney; Mike Colagrossi, president of Century Metal Works, Inc.; Dr. John P. Caputo, physician; former Gov. Albert D. Rosellini; former City Councilmen Charles M. Carroll and Ted Best; Frank Sugia, musician; Jack Smith, retired chef, and many others.

Also other public figures such as County Councilmen Dave Mooney, John O’Brien; City Councilmen Wayne Larkin and George Cooley; John VanAmburgh, county sanitarian; Carl Erlandson, city comptroller; John Hammond, legislative aid to the County Council, and many others.

Banchero, the guest of honor, was obviously taken by surprise, especially by the presence of so many old-timers he had known as a youngster before moving to Seattle and beginning his career as meat cutter.

Antonio Gaffi, 84, recalled how “Catfish” got his name; how two of Banchero’s boyhood friends, Carl DeLauro and Louis Balzarini, saved their 9-year-old friend from drowning.

And Edo Vanni, the old baseball player, recalled how he used to hide in the weeds, then sneak up and steal from Gaffi’s cherry tree.

Full of nostalgia, many of the old-timers also were taking on a fair share of homemade wine from a seemingly-endless supply of decanter bottles and gallon jugs.

Orlee Cole in the kitchen was slicing up two of the biggest barons of beef ever—a total of 118 pounds, plus 27 pounds of ham and platters covered with 12 pounds of sliced breast of turkey. Nancy Baltazar and Dooda Vernerelli served as volunteer wine pourers.

Ed Banchero introduced us around. We met guys (we can only hope the spelling is accurate) such as Elmer Favro, Jerry Remolif; Denny, Nick, and Joe DiJulio (cousins of the many-membered Seattle branch of DiJulios); Vic Weston, mayor of Black Diamond, and his brothers, Don and Rufe Weston, all members of the famed Black Diamond family of Welsh miners; Chick Thompson, and Romeo, Jim and Dooda Vernarelli, and Walter Clark (an old-time Black Diamond soccer player, not the Seattle restaurateur).

Also Siro Peretti, Louie Draghi, Jules Dal Santo, Jo Kuzaro, Lyle Bremmeyer, Chick Morganti, Tom Spaight, Boots Pierotti, Art Lower; Joe (Hoss) Minaglia, Les Banchero, Tom Herrin, Louie Callero, Joe Just, Amos Ungherini, Carl (Kumanootch) De Lauro, Gerry Godie, John Bigley; Lino Modesto and Mario Tonda, Ernie Romedo, Frank Guidetti, Chick Kravagna, and Jerry Fontana.

Still others included Louie Luchessi, Gosh Erath, Howard Barta, Emilo Rossi, Molly Malatesta. And there were numerous others.

Although the party started at noon, it was still going strong when we left about 7 p.m.

When Black Diamond old-timers decide to throw a party, they really throw a party—especially if it’s for a favorite son such as Ed (Catfish) Banchero.

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