Supporting Jai Alai in Memory of Julio Anchia

In honor of Julio Anchia, we are launching this GoFundMe campaign to celebrate his legacy and passion for Jai-Alai. Julio Anchia, a dedicated professional athlete, stood up for what he believed in and played a pivotal role in the history of the sport. This campaign aims to continue his legacy by supporting youth Jai-Alai programs at the Universidad de Pelota in Markina, Basque Country, in his memory.

Julio Anchia passed away peacefully on November 8, 2023. He was just short of his 87th birthday and lived a long and remarkable life.

About Julio Anchia:

He was born in Markina-Xemein on December 4, 1936, during the Civil War in Spain. Markina was the 1st of many Basque towns (like Gernika) bombed by Fascists and the Nazi Condor Legion. In 1936-7, Markina was bombed 37 times.

It was a dangerous time. When Simona (Anchia's mother) began feeling labor pains, she took her daughter, Maria Angeles, and left Markina on foot IN THE SNOW to seek refuge with family at Longa, a mountain farmhouse or “caserio” in Mallabia - 15kms away.

Nearing the top, Simona started to give birth. Maria Angeles ran to Longa for help. Anchias came down with an ox cart like the one below, but Julio Anchia was born - IN THE SNOW. They cut the umbilical cord with a knife, covered Julio with blankets, and put the mother and child on the cart headed for Longa.

Anchia’s origin story and his upbringing in the aftermath of the war made him tough. Basques were on the losing side and life under fascist dictatorship in towns like Markina was bleak. He dropped out of school in the 7th grade to earn money herding goats.

The head of the Universidad de Pelota in Markina, Txomin, took my dad under his wing & gave him a job sweeping the floors at the Jai Alai fronton. In return, he let Anchia practice for free. Small but strong, he learned quickly and showed promise. Txomin’s influence changed his life.

At 15, he was Bizkaia champion and turned pro in Zaragoza. At 17, he got a contract to play in Naples. As a kid not knowing the language, he moved to Italy. At 19 he got his big break with a contract to play Jai-Alai in America! He boarded the Conte Biancamano and arrived at Ellis Island, New York on December 1, 1955.

Anchia had a great career at Dania, Tijuana and Daytona Jai-Alai. He was Rookie of the Year at Dania and ultimately got a contract to play at the “Yankee Stadium” of Jai-Alai — Miami — during what is considered its golden age. He played with legends of the game.

Jai-Alai also brought Anchia his greatest treasure — a sixty-year love with his wife — Edurne Michelena of Mexico City. They met at a Jai-Alai player picnic on Miami Beach. Edurne's father, Justino Michelena, played a generation before, and his beautiful daughter was in attendance that day. But Anchia's career was cut short by the 1968 player’s strike. He joined the picket line at Miami Jai-Alai and was fired and blackballed.

At 31 years old, he was unemployed, newly married, and Rafael Anchia was born. Despite his struggles, Anchia knew how to work hard. After the family moved in with Rafael's "padrinos" and Anchia's brief stint as a door-to-door vacuum sales guy with limited English, he got a job working first at S. Miami and later Orbea’s Amateur Jai-Alai.

Fernando Orbea, who grew up with Anchia- IN MARKINA - helped the family get back on their feet. Rafael grew up at Orbea’s watching his dad sweep floors, serve food and sodas, run the register, fix cestas and sew balls.

After the blacklist of ‘68 had faded, Anchia returned to the pros — this time not as a Pelotari but as a Pelotero (ball maker) at Dania Jai-Alai and Milford Jai-Alai where he sewed Jai-Alai balls by hand each night until he retired in his 70s. Many players from Markina would keep him company until his shift ended around 2:00 a.m.

Despite being tough, he was a wonderful father to Christina Anchia and Rafael Anchia. He taught them to work hard, value education and never give up.

And, ALWAYS STICK UP FOR THE UNDERDOG — because he was one.

Mrs. Anchia was always by his side through illnesses, Alzheimer’s and Dementia. She cared for him until the end. He told her “I love you” every day.

If you got all the way here, thank you. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you send a small donation to support youth programs at the Universidad de Pelota in Markina-Xemein.

The Anchia family will celebrate Julio Anchia’s life with a Basque mass in Markina-Xemein next summer.

Thank you for your generosity, and please share this campaign with your friends and family to help us reach our goal.

Goian bego Aitxe.