Casey sent some sad news to us today.
A 1997 Bishop Blanchet (8200 Wallingford Ave N) graduate died on December 26 after an accidental fall. Casey writes:
Today was the memorial for Charley Wellnitz. He was a phenomenal athlete with an unforgettable smile. He was a buddy from growing up, and the memorial at Our Lady of the Lake was packed.
This 1996 Seattle Times article paints an incredible picture:
Charley Wellnitz and football go together like biscuits and gravy.
“He literally could be an all-league player at any position on the football field,” said Blanchet Coach George Monica. “He’s that versatile.”
Wellnitz has been a three-year starter for Blanchet at safety and a two-year starter at running back. He also has played some quarterback and is one of the major reasons Blanchet (8-1) is in the playoffs for the first time since 1985.
[ ... ] Charley isn’t the first Wellnitz to play for Blanchet and he certainly won’t be the last. The name Wellnitz is linked to the school. Fifteen of his 18 aunts and uncles went to Blanchet.
[ ... ] Charley has 56 cousins and admits he can’t remember the names of all the younger ones in grade school and pre-school.
“I meet my cousins every Christmas and Thanksgiving,” he said. “Every year there is a new baby cousin to meet.”
Charley’s parents, Jim and Pat, grew up five blocks apart in Wedgwood, where they still live. Jim and Pat attended Blanchet, where Jim played football until a knee injury sidelined him. Pat was a cheerleader. They didn’t start dating each other until he was a freshman in college.
Charley is 6 feet 2, 200 pounds. He has lettered in football, basketball and track every season since the start of his sophomore year. He has high-jumped 6 feet, long-jumped 20-6, triple-jumped 39-3 and run 100 meters in 12.1 seconds.
And, from his obituary:
Charley Brown, Char, Chaz, Chuck, C.J. Nutz, and Charley Bear was an outstanding multi-sport athlete in high school and played football in college. Our Charley was a friend to all. He had a heart of gold. He was always there to help whenever you called. He was a rabid Seahawks (“sea-chickens”) fan. On game day, in all his “Hawks” garb, all of his attention was on the field. Charley is survived by his fiancee Lindsey Brossard, his grand-father, David Wellnitz Sr.; his parents, Jim and Pat; his brothers, Sean and David; and many, many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
