Mario Banchero (born 16th of April 1974; Age: 50 years old) is the father of Paolo Banchero, a professional basketball player in the NBA.
Though Mario is now into business, the father of three was once an athlete during his days at the University of Washington where he played football for its Husky team. Banchero never made it to professional football as he went to join his family’s meat processing business which has been in existence since 1932. The father of three currently owns the business and functions as its president.
Summary of Mario Banchero’s Biography
- Full Name: Mario Banchero
- Gender: Male
- Date of Birth: 16th of April 1974
- Mario Banchero’s Age: 50 years old
- Ethnicity: Italian
- Nationality: American
- Zodiac Sign: Aries
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christianity
- Marital Status: Married
- Mario Banchero’s Wife: Rhonda Smith-Banchero
- Mario Banchero’s Children: Paolo, Mia, and Lio Banchero
- Siblings: One
- Mario Banchero’s Height in Inches: 6 feet 3 inches
- Mario Banchero’s Height in Centimetres: 190.5 cm
- Famous For: Being the father of Paolo Banchero
- Mario Banchero’s Instagram: @mariobanchero
- Twitter: @MarioBanchero
- Facebook: Mario Banchero
When was Mario Banchero Born?
Mario Banchero was born on the 16th of April 1974, which pegs his current age at 50. His place of birth is captured as Seattle, Washington, in the United States; this is an indication of his American nationality. However, ethnicity-wise, Mario is listed as Italian.
His family history reveals that the pioneers of the Banchero clan migrated from the northern region of their home country Italy to the United States during the turn of the twentieth century (1900). The patriarch and matriarch of the Banchero clan worked and earned a living as farmers as well as coal miners during their time in Italy, and they were quite successful at the craft.
While his parents’ identities cannot be confirmed, it is common knowledge that they put down roots in Seattle, Washington, where they raised their children. The Seattle native is full of admiration for his dad and has displayed this affection via his socials. We only heard tidbits about his mum in June 2017 through a Facebook post.
In an interview session, Mario Banchero said he grew up in a Catholic home and has remained a Catholic to date. The proud Catholic faithful revealed his unflinching support for the current pontiff, Pope Francis, and his 2020 point. In his own words, Mario said, “a conscientious Catholic cannot be a ‘single-issue voter.”
Far from being the only child of his parents, Mario spent his formative years alongside a brother whose name has never been revealed. However, his brother was at the University of Washington with him, and they both played college football together.
Mario Banchero’s Academic Journey
The records have not revealed any record of Mario Banchero’s earliest academic journey, but when it was time for him to go to high school, the Seattle native went to O’Dea High School. The tidbits we could gather from sources said he was admitted into the educational institution in 1989 and completed his studies sometime in 1992. However, the details of his activities in high school have remained undisclosed.
With his high school education completed, Banchero’s quest for further academic qualifications led him to the University of Washington, where he joined the college’s Communication department to study for a degree in the discipline.
After becoming a college student in 1994, Mario Banchero wasted no time in enlisting for its Husky football team. During his days with the University of Washington’s Huskies, Mario played in the tight end position until his graduation in 1997.
Though he was very active in collegiate football, Banchero didn’t want to pursue the sport professionally after graduation. Thus, he never had the opportunity to become a pro-NFL athlete. From what is obvious, Mario seemed to have buried the fiery passion he had for sports in his first son, Paolo Banchero, who is gradually turning up the heat and is fast becoming famous in the world of basketball.
What Does Paolo Banchero’s Father Do for a living?
After graduating from the University of Washington, Mario Bacnchero got involved in his family business. The Bacnchero clan takes credit for founding the meat processing business known as Mondo and Sons Inc. The company, which is situated in Tukwilla, Seattle, distributes its products in Seattle and its environs. Four generations of Bancheros have worked in the butcher shop business since its establishment in 1932.
The company sources its product locally and has been thriving from inception to date. Mario worked his way to the top; today, he wields the big stick at Mondo and Sons Inc. as the president – a position he attained in 2002.
Mario Bacnchero is not only known as the president of the family business. The former collegiate football player has also held prestigious professional positions in other fields.
Between 2007 and 2010, he served with the Rainier Chamber of Commerce in Seattle, Washington, as one of its board members. 2008 to 2009 was when he was the substantial secretary of the City of Seattle District Council. Mario was part of the City of Seattle Southeast District Council for one year between 2009 to 2010 as the Vice president.
Other positions held by the former Husky footballer include President of the Genesee Merchants Association, Seattle, Washington, between 2009 to 2014. To date, he still serves with 1150 LLC, Tukwila, Washington, as a managing partner.
The Seattle Native is Quite Vocal on Social Media
Mario Banchero is visible on several social media platforms, especially Twitter, where the father of three has been very vocal. He joined Twitter in April 2011, and so far, he has twitted 1,195 times. What you would find on his handle are tweets about his son’s activities with the Orlando Magic. Mario also talks about politics and you will see a lot of posts about his family.
Mario practically lives on Twitter and is always sharing tweets; collegiate games are one of his favorite topics, and the lively Twitter user is always sending out shutouts to his homeland Italy, especially the Italian national sports teams, including basketball, soccer, and more.
Most conspicuous on Banchero’s page is his profile picture sporting him, his wife Rhoda, and the former president of the United States, President Barack Obama. So far, his Twitter handle @MarioBanchero has accumulated 1,456 Followers and still counting.
Mario is also on Instagram @MarioBanchero and has a self-titled Facebook page. He leverages these two platforms in showing support for his children’s careers, mentioning them and their achievements at every opportunity and showcasing videos and pictures of him attending their games.
At the last count, his IG handle has accumulated a total of 1,177 followers
with 41 posts.
How Did Mario Banchero Meet his Wife?
Mario Banchero and his wife, Rhonda Banchero (nee Smith), first crossed paths when the duo was studying at the University of Washington. We must also acknowledge the fact that both were raised a few blocks apart and were students of the same high school but they didn’t have the opportunity to meet until their college enrollment.
Even after joining the university, they still couldn’t meet until their mutual interest in sporting activities brought them together. We were not told whether it was love at first sight for the couple, but the duo started dating around the late 1990s and the rest, as they say, is history.
Banchero Proposed to Rhonda at Green Lake
Despite being an interracial couple, Rhonda and Mario’s union survived through college, and they continued post-graduation. In February 1999, Mario Banchero popped the big question to his love interest. Being a romantic at heart, the Italian-American infused some drama into his proposal.
On that fateful day, the lovebirds were meant to meet and get acquainted with each other’s parents. However, Banchero asked his girlfriend to come to pick him up at Green Lake after convincing her that his car won’t start, which was, in fact, a lie.
Following her arrival at the lake, the couple decided to take a walk around Green Lake. Suddenly, Mario asked for Rhoda’s hand in marriage, complete with a guitarist playing soft music in the background and flowers. It was a romantic moment for the couple; needless to say, Mario got the answer he wished to hear.
The Got Married in 1999
The couple eventually exchanged the forever commitment on the 31st of July 1999 and have been living together as man and wife for the past 24 years.
Banchero chose their 20th wedding anniversary to reveal where he got the inspiration to stage a romantic proposal. According to the father of three, the inspiration came from a comedy television show he watched on Fox. Mario said the key character in the show popped the big question to his girlfriend at Green Lake, and he thought it wise to replicate the scene. He also explained how he took pains to ensure that everything was carefully planned out and went well without hitches.
Who is Mario Banchero’s Wife, Rhonda Smith-Banchero?
Rhonda Smith-Banchero is a former American basketball star who played with the Washington Huskies basketball team. By the time she finished college, Rhonda was named the institution’s all-time leading scorer with 2,948 points. In 2014, she was inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame.
The year 2000 was when the former collegiate basketball player was drafted into the WNBA in a third-round selection. She then started playing basketball at a professional level. Mario Banchero’s wife played in the American Basketball League and also overseas.
After playing as a center for the Sacramento Monarchs for six seasons, Rhonda retired from active play and went to work at the Seattle-based Holy Names Academy as the basketball coach.
How Many Children Does Mario Banchero Have?
The marriage between Mario Banchero and his lifelong wife, Rhonda Smith-Banchero, produced three children – a girl and two boys.
The first is Paolo Ranchero, born on the 12th of November 2002 in Seattle, Washinton. Mario and Rhoda were barely three years into their union when they welcomed their first fruit.
With a mother that is 6 feet 2 inches tall and a father who stands an inch taller, it came as no surprise that Paolo grew at an alarming rate. He hit 3 feet or 0.91 m at just 15 months old. By the time the youngster joined seventh grade at O’Dea High School in Seattle, he was 6 feet 1 inch and finished with a height of 6 feet 5 inches. The Duke University alum is currently 6 feet 10 inches tall.
Mario Banchero’s second child is his only daughter, Mia Ranchero. She is said to be a couple of years younger than her big brother, but the exact birth date has never been disclosed. Mia also inherited the gene for tallness from both parents. By the time she clocked 17, Mario’s second child was already standing 5 feet 10 inches with the potential to grow taller.
Lio Ranchero is the baby of the Banchero family. There isn’t any info about Lio’s birth details, but he is a high school student at O’Dea High School, where his dad and big brother graduated. The youngster is expected to complete his studies at O’Dea in 2026.
Mario Banchero’s First Son is His Most Famous Child
All three children born to Mario Banchero and his spouse Rhonda are famous; however, Paolo takes the nod as the most famous. He was a backup quarterback for the O’Dea High School football team, where he also played basketball. While several universities expressed interest in recruiting him into their football teams, Paolo surprised everybody on the 20th of August 2020 when he opted to enlist with Duke University to play basketball for Duke Blue Devils.
Yes Sir, That’s it PB Say it loud & proud….!!!#PlayLikeDuke#HereComesDuke#TheBrotherhood pic.twitter.com/RGb75WKcty
— DukeBrewVolsTrue (@BrewDuke) November 29, 2021
He only stayed in college for a couple of years, and on the 20th of April 2022, the aspiring basketball star decided to forgo his remaining college eligibility to declare for the NBA draft.
Paolo was picked first overall by the Orlando Magic. He is also included in Italy’s national basketball team and may represent his home country at any time.
Just like Paolo, Mario Banchero’s only daughter is also athletic. Mia Banchero is currently playing as a defensive midfielder with the soccer team of Holy Names Academy. She also played for Reigh Academy in Seattle, Washington. The only girl in the Banchero brood said she intends to combine academics with soccer. Her future plans include joining Queens University to pursue both soccer and a degree.
The athletic genes of the Banchero family also run in Mario’s last child, Lio, who is doing exploits in high school football with the team of the Benson Bruins. The varsity football league recognizes him as a star quarterback, and Lio has been earmarked as a player to watch out for in the future.
FAQ’s About Mario Banchero
- Who is Mario Banchero?
- Mario Banchero is an Italian-American businessman and former collegiate football player. He is the father of professional basketball player Paolo Banchero and husband to former basketball player Rhonda Smith-Banchero. He currently runs his family’s meat processing and butcher shop, Mondo and Sons Company.
- Where was Mario Banchero born, and what’s his background?
- Mario was born on April 16, 1974, in Seattle, Washington, United States. His parents were Italian immigrants who migrated to the United States from Northern Italy in the early 1900s. He is of Italian descent.
- Mario Banchero’s Height: How Tall is Mario Banchero? Mario Banchero is 6 feet 3 inches tall
- What was Mario Banchero’s education and football career like?
- Mario attended O’Dea High School and then the University of Washington, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communications. While at the university, he played for the Huskies, the official football team. He did not pursue a professional football career after college.
- What does Mario Banchero do for a living?
- Mario runs the family business, Mondo and Sons Company, a butcher shop and meat processing company based in Tukwila, Washington, USA. The business was established in 1932, and Mario legally acquired it in 1997, becoming president in 2002.
- What other roles has Mario Banchero held?
- He has served as the vice president of the City of Seattle Southeast District Council, president of the Genesee Merchants Association, and held various other positions, including being a board member of the Rainier Chamber of Commerce.
- Who is Mario Banchero’s wife?
- Mario is married to Rhonda Smith-Banchero, a well-known American former basketball player who played in the WNBA and is now a basketball coach.
- How did Mario and Rhonda Banchero meet?
- They met while attending the University of Washington as students. They were both athletes on the university’s team, though they had also been neighbors and attended the same high school.
- Who are Mario Banchero’s children?
- Mario and Rhonda have three children: Paolo, a professional basketball player; Mia, a defensive midfielder in soccer; and Lio, who plays football for the Benson Bruins in Washington.
- What is the history of Mario Banchero’s family business?
- The family business, Mondo and Sons Company, was founded in 1932. Mario legally acquired it in 1997, and it specializes in meat processing and butchery. The supplies come from the neighborhood, and the business has been in the family for four generations.
- How did Mario Banchero propose to Rhonda?
- Mario proposed to Rhonda at Green Lake after feigning a car breakdown. They spent time walking around the lake before Mario got down on one knee and proposed while a guitarist played in the background. He was inspired by a TV episode for the proposal.
