"Bill" Diambri, 75, never stopped being a coach
"He was special, even though we had our own dads," said former student Russell Davis of Sammamish, who went on to play for the Cincinnati Bengals. "He taught us commitment, dedication and respect."
Mr. Diambri died at Renton's Valley General Hospital Friday (Aug. 20) of congestive heart failure. He was 75.
He had been a physical-education teacher and assistant football coach at Garfield High School in Seattle from 1958 to 1968; head coach at Hazen High School from 1969 to 1971; and at Lindbergh High School in Renton from 1972 until his retirement. From 1974 to 1983, his Lindbergh football team was a perennial contender in the old North Puget Sound League.
Mr. Diambri, the youngest son of Italian immigrants, was born in Renton on July 22, 1929. He spoke only Italian on the family's Renton farm and, like his older siblings, didn't learn English until he started elementary school. He graduated from Renton High School in 1947 and from what is now Western Washington University in 1951. He earned a master's of education from Seattle University in 1966.
Mr. Diambri married Ione Johnson on March 17, 1951. That year they designed and built their home on a hill overlooking downtown Renton that would become a gathering place for Mr. Diambri's students.
"On Sunday nights after a game, the team would pack the downstairs to watch the game film," said the coach's son, John Diambri of Gig Harbor. "Dad would buy six to 10 dozen doughnuts and they'd be gone in a few minutes. He'd say things like, 'You call that a block?' but he'd compliment players as well.
"His favorite saying was, 'Don't belly up.' That was my dad's equivalent of saying be tough."
Described as a man with a crusty exterior and a soft center, Mr. Diambri was remembered for slipping needy players a few dollars. He often gave players rides home, and in his free time spent many days helping a nephew practice kicking.
"He was always doing these little nice things," John Diambri said. "He was concerned about football, but he was more concerned about people as human beings and making good men out of the players."
Dee Hawkes of Bothell, a longtime prep sports coach, said Mr. Diambri was well liked by his peers as well as the teams.
"There aren't many left like him," Hawkes said. "The ego and pay didn't mean anything. He was the ultimate high-school coach who just wanted to create a good program and would take extra time to help someone in trouble."
A number of Diambri's players were eventually drafted into the pros, Davis said. He credits the coach with keeping him in college after he'd told his parents he was going to quit.
"He asked me why I wanted to quit and I said my friends were making money, had jobs and cars and stuff," Davis said. "Coach Diambri didn't say anything profound, he just asked me that if I got that today, what would I be striving for tomorrow. You can disappoint your parents because they kind of expect it, but I couldn't disappoint him. I stayed in college."
Another former player, Doug Weston, said Mr. Diambri taught students respect and to give their best.
"I knew he wouldn't ask me to do something he wouldn't do or believe in himself," said Weston, who now works for Boeing. "When I got to the University of Washington and played under Don James, I already knew how to push myself because of him."
Like many other former students, Weston stayed in touch, calling and visiting Mr. Diambri and his wife several times a year.
"It wasn't just the stars who stayed in touch," Weston said. "He took an interest in all of the kids."
Mr. Diambri was an avid Huskies, Mariners and Seahawks fan and met with other retired prep coaches for a weekly Wednesday breakfast at Tommy's Restaurant in Renton. He was proud to be the group's two-time champion at predicting the Seahawks' season record.
Daughter-in-law Alice Puhich Diambri of Gig Harbor said she admired Mr. Diambri's tenacity and the way he expected his students to try their best.
"That's why he flunked Jimi Hendrix," she said. "He had Jimi Hendrix in gym class around 1966 or 1967. He wouldn't show up enough to get a grade and my father-in-law flunked him because he wouldn't try."
Mr. Diambri was a longtime member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Renton.
In addition to his wife, son and daughter-in-law, he is survived by brother Victor Diambri of Renton, sister Irene Brainard of Renton and grandchildren Michael John Diambri and Sarah Diambri of Gig Harbor. Services were held yesterday, with interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Coach Diambri Scholar Athlete Fund, 7805 31 St. Court N.W., Gig Harbor, WA 98335. Personal memories may be recorded at www.mem.com.
Sherry Grindeland: 206-515-5633 or sgrindeland@seattletimes.com