Dena Bondietti Marsch

A native Astorian, Dena Bondietti Marsch has long been involved in Astoria athletics. Looking back on her experiences as player, instructor and coach and the wonderful life experiences these activities gifted her, she says she is thankful for the opportunity to now be a contributor and “pay it forward.”

As a student at Astoria High School, Dena participated in volleyball, basketball and track, which during that era were under the auspices of the Girls Athletic Association (GAA), similar to “club” athletics. In the fall of 1971 she was on the volleyball team invited to participate in a large statewide tournament at Portland State University. The tournament was a precursor to today’s OSAA playoffs that followed the introduction of Title IX.

As a student she was a member of the National Honor Society, Service Club, Girls Athletic Association and Future Teachers of America.

Following graduation from high school, Dena attended the Oregon College of Education (now Western Oregon University), graduating in 1976 with a BS in Physical Education and Health with an Athletic Training emphasis. During her college years she played four seasons of volleyball, three seasons of softball and two seasons of basketball. During the winter/spring of 1976 she was a student teacher at Dallas High School and served as assistant varsity girls’ basketball and assistant track coach in the spring. Her summers were spent back at home and she participated on numerous summer slow pitch softball teams and received recognition to several all-tournament teams, winning three state championships.

After graduating, she returned to Astoria and worked during the summer of 1976 for the City of Astoria Parks and Recreation. An injury put both teaching and sports on hold and she worked in the medical field for four years. In the fall of 1980 she was hired by Astoria High School to coach varsity volleyball and in the spring of 1981 to teach PE, Health and Senior Transitions, a position she held for 29 years.

Dena’s coaching career included Varsity Volleyball Coach from 1980 to 1989, Freshman Girls’ Basketball Coach from 1981 to 1983, Assistant Track Coach from 1981 to 1983 (the girls won the state championship in 1981!). She also served as the Winter Athletic Supervisor for 18 years wearing many hats, including supervising girls’ basketball, boys’ basketball and wrestling.

During Dena’s teaching career, she served as a class advisor for 29 years, Service Club Advisor for 15 years, served on a variety of committees and helped start the Astoria School District Wellness Program in the mid-1980s.

Since she retired in June 2009, Dena and her husband John have remained active with contributions to the AHS athletic program, purchasing state and sportsmanship banners that hang in the gym and most recently, a donation to change out classroom door locks so they could be locked from inside the classroom during an emergency, eliminating the need for teachers to go out into the hallway to lock the doors.

Dena and her husband John continue to reside in Astoria. Her family includes her mother, Joyce Bondietti, stepson Tad (Warrenton) and granddaughters Brianna, Jordan and Caylee. Dena continues part time as an online teacher for Oregon Virtual Education and as a substitute teacher at AHS.