Marangon name lives on at Tahoma

MAPLE VALLEY — Tahoma High School was waiting for Chris Marangon.

His family legacy made sure of it.

"I would walk around the school and teachers would say, 'I knew your grandpa, I played baseball with him,' or 'He was my teacher,' " Marangon said. "It's really neat to still have people recognize the Marangon name. Tahoma is our family school, and that's how it's going to be for a long time."

And that's how it has been for a long time.

More than 70 years.

Proud Tahoma tradition in this family has spanned four generations, multiple campuses, a couple last names, a World War and countless hours of games and practices for the school's sports teams.

"There aren't many families that have this kind of opportunity," said Todd Marangon, Chris' father, of the family's history with the school. "It'll end someday, but we're going to hold onto it as long as we can."

Chris Marangon can recall being recognized by his surname in kindergarten. Fast forward to baseball season of his senior year — where the second-ranked Bears (19-2) play the first day of the Class 4A state playoffs on Saturday — and it's still all about family.

Some Tahoma baseball games this season have involved all four generations.

Chris, the SPSL 4A North co-MVP who has committed to Western Nevada, is either on the mound or in the outfield. Todd (Class of 1983) often watches in the stands with his mother, Marsha McBroom (Class of 1962), and his grandfather, Tote Pichinini (Class of 1942), who played baseball for Tahoma as early as 1939.

Two years ago, Chris and his brother Anthony, who is two years older, led the Bears to a third-place finish at state.

"It's cool to be a part of a legacy, where everyone knows the family name," said Anthony Marangon, now a sophomore at Washington State. "We try to keep the name alive and not do anything bad to damage the name. Sports have obviously been a big part of it."

A huge part.

Anthony and uncle Joel (Class of 1981) each played baseball, football and golf. Chris is a star in baseball and football. Todd was best at wrestling, but also played football and baseball.

"They're all great athletes," said McBroom, Todd and Joel's mother.

A shared love for sports is equaled only by the family's commitment to letterman's jackets. Pichinini remembers jackets being popular at school back in the '40s. More than 60 years later the tradition still is in style on campus — albeit, a bit pricier.

Todd Marangon estimates his jacket in 1983 cost $65. One generation later he has paid close to $3,000 buying and maintaining updated letterman's jackets for his two sons.

But perhaps the best letterman's jacket story lies with McBroom, the ex-Tahoma cheerleader.

When she started dating Gene Marangon, a graduate of rival Enumclaw who later became a longtime teacher at Tahoma, McBroom flaunted her boyfriend's jacket like a trophy.

"Wearing it to school for the first time, I was like a prancing rooster," McBroom said.

These days, most of the family letterman's jackets are lost. Pichinini never saw his again after returning from service in World War II. McBroom had to return hers after a divorce. Todd and Joel can't remember when or how theirs were lost.

But memories lost in the missing jackets are relived during family reunions, which sometimes boast hundreds of relatives. Todd Marangon likens it to "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."

And the family line shows no signs of slowing. Pichinini, who has 13 great-grandchildren, barely has time to keep up with all the family events.

"I have a birthday to go to twice a month," he said. "And I love it."