Joseph “ Chick” Marchetti is a Bath native who grew up in an all-American city with a rich tradition of athletics. Chick, along with brother Ed, played every sport available; in the process, putting Morse High School on the map as one of the state’s greatest sport high schools.
Chick played baseball, football, and basketball as a high school athlete. His baseball and football teams won the State Championships his junior year. His high school basketball teams enjoyed great success as they laid the groundwork for Morse’s domination of Western Maine basketball in the late 50’s and early 60’s. As a result, Mid-coast fans became familiar with names like Marchetti, Stover, Bishop, Billington, and Harrington.
Chick went on to play basketball at Colby College under the guidance of John Winkin, with whom he had a life- long relationship. Following college, Chick entered the Army where his size and skills allowed him to represent the 4th Division Army. He was a tenacious, dominating force, often playing against college caliber players. The respect he earned from his competitors was evidenced by Chick being named to 4th Division All-Army team.
Back in Bath, Chick worked for BIW and entered the world of officiating in 1966. For 48 years Chick refereed basketball at all levels and was respected as a no nonsense official who used commonsense and was always in control of the game. He worked tournament games for over 30 years.
In addition to officiating basketball, Chick also refereed field hockey and umpired baseball. Throughout his athletic life, Chick was a major contributor to Bath’s youth programs. To generations of Bath boys and girls, Chick was a constant presence. He officiated, coached, and administered youth sports while raising his three children Peter, Bruce, and Carolyne with his wife Diane.
For all his efforts at making the game of basketball special, the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to recognize Joseph “ Chick” Marchetti upon his induction as a Legend of the Game.
