Charlie McShane

Dear Charlie: The Love of my life! And friend to many! Charlie passed at age 72 on March 21, 2026. We take comfort in knowing he is now Cradled by the Lord and has reunited with loved ones.

Charlie McShane was born in Long Beach, California and has been in Grays Harbor County since 2006.

He will be remembered for many things but his latest legacy would be the charity work he did at an annual event in Ocean Shores as an original volunteer Coach for the Grays Harbor Youth Athletics — which has been raising money for the local kids over 14 years.

He also found much joy in his step-daughter, Barbara Meamber-Gonzalez and her family which included his granddaughters Chloe and Camila — age 1 and 2. Charlie was Dad to Barbara since age 8 and she misses him terribly. Many remember Charlie as an NFL linebacker. He was originally drafted by Dallas and was the last man cut on the team back when Coach Mike Ditka was the Defensive Coordinator for the Cowboys. Luckily for us the Seattle Seahawks picked him up where he was No. 59 from 1977 to ‘79 — he was an original Seahawk.

He had proudly attended Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California where the team he represented won a National Championship back in the day and Charlie was named All-American. That same school would later induct him into their Athletic Hall of Fame. His teammates would marvel at his ability to walk on his hands across the entire length of a football field — it was part of his strength building regiment. After college and his Seahawk days, he went to Farrier School and graduated top 10 on the West Coast. He was a Horse Whisperer, but he was too tall for that occupation and his back was not having it and he had to find a new line of work. He would go onto owning the Beach House — a bar in Sumner, Washington that featured former players and Sea Gals and musicians and some amazing, rewarding, long-lasting friendships.

Charlie apparently wasn’t done hitting people, so after his NFL career he played rugby for 10 years and represented a West Coast USA team playing even as far as New Zealand. He loved rugby. Additionally, Charlie had always worked on his carpentry skills and was in construction for many decades even building homes as a general contractor in Montesano and later had an asbestos abatement company. There are too many friends and family to mention who over the years shared their time and love with Charlie. To all a big hug and know he and I love you all. He cherished those times and memories.

And many thanks and love to Kenny as a lifelong friend and former rugby teammate who became Charlie’s in-home care provider.

Through it all he cherished his family more than anything — his sister, Cassie from San Luis Obispo, is now the only surviving sibling out of 10 and his dear nieces and nephews. He loved you all so much.

Last, but not least, he is terribly missed by his life partner of the past 24 years. It is I, June Bongirno, who now writes and reminisces on his life as I look back on all our cherished memories and adventures that we shared together — there were many. The outpouring of love from everyone has been so endearing and appreciated. Charlie was special and always had and is still now surrounded by a lot of Love. Thank you to all who loved him as much as me and for sharing that Spirit of Love today. May God Rest Your Soul Charlie Mac. Amen. Your Best Friend, June