John S. Banchero Sr.

John S. BANCHERO Sr. Died Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003. He was born July 14, 1909 in South Park in Seattle. His family moved to Bremerton, WA. where they owned and operated a grocery store and dealt in real estate. John graduated from Bremerton High School in 1930 where he excelled in academics, baseball, basketball and football. After graduation he formed Diamond Tank Transport to distribute petroleum products throughout Washington. In 1938, Mr. Banchero joined Josie Razore and Alphonzo Morelli to bid the collection and disposal of the City of Seattle's garbage. Diamond Tank Transport successfully won the bid in l938. When World War II began Mssrs. Banchero, Razore,and Morelli formed the SeaBell Shipbuilding Co. They built five wood barges to transport war supplies for the United States Maritime Commission as an alternative to using large transport ships, which were being lost in naval warfare. In l943, Seattle Disposal Company was formed and again they successfully won the bid for Seattle garbage collection and disposal. A construction division also operated in the early years providing excavation and landfill. Most major buildings in the downtown corridor at the time including the Space Needle and the Sea-First Bank Building were excavated by Seattle Disposal. Mr. Banchero became one of the founders of Rabanco Companies in 1980. This Company and its affiliates continued to operate for 60 years until they were sold in 1998/1999. Mr. Banchero and his wife supported Catholic education and charities throughout their lives. At the age of 88 he retired after being in business for 60 years. He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Elizabeth Banchero. He is survived by a son, J. Stephan Banchero Jr. and his wife Linda, and a daughter, Catherine Banchero Malshuk and her husband Stephen. He had five grandchildren; Christina, Gina and J. Stephan Banchero III, Nicholas and Anthony Malshuk. A Funeral Mass will be offered Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2003 at 11 a.m. at St. Anne Catholic Church, 101 W. Lee St., Seattle. Private Interment at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Seattle. Hoffner Fisher & Harvey In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to Catholic charities or the Banchero Friends Services, a non-profit organization serving developmentally disabled adults: 2335 N. 196th Place #0-104, Shoreline, WA. 98133.