More than a game

For the Pinciotti family, a passion for UD basketball isn’t just part of their college years — it’s a courtside tradition passed down through generations. So, when the UD men’s basketball team was set to compete in the 2024 Maui Invitational, it wasn’t just another game on the schedule — it was the perfect excuse for a Hawaiian adventure.

Tori Pinciotti ’12 and her family of Flyers were planning their dream trip to watch the Flyers compete in Maui when an unexpected hurdle interrupted everything. Two weeks prior to the long-awaited trip, Tori’s father, Dean “Dino” Pinciotti ’83, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 

“We’d never experienced something like this before,” Tori said.

Tori and her sister, Olivia Pinciotti ’15, had even bought a University of Dayton Hawaiian shirt for her father. He’d have to wait to wear it.

The Pinciotti family has a long-standing allegiance to Dayton athletics. Dino’s father, Donato Pinciotti ’46, played football and baseball for the University. Tori’s parents met at Dayton, and Dino would attend basketball games to watch his future wife, cheerleader Lisanne Mosher ’82, cheer on the Flyers. 

Dayton athletics were a positive focus for the family as Dino started his chemotherapy treatments.

“Dayton became a fun celebration through the week,” Tori said. “We told ourselves, ‘OK, we know we’re in a bad spot, but we have Dayton basketball tonight!’” 

For Christmas, Dino’s three daughters found a connection through a family friend to Flyer basketball star and Indiana Pacer Obi Toppin, and they put together a surprise gift for their father. Dino received a package from the Pacers with a basketball signed by Toppin. The gift included an encouraging message for Dino as he completed his chemotherapy treatments. 

“[M]y dad was just stunned,” Tori said. “He could not believe it and kept asking how we did this.”

Dino’s love for UD basketball became a way for people to connect with him throughout his treatment, too. They reached out about stats, plays and calls of the games. Tori recalled the power of the Dayton community: “You don’t necessarily always see that community, but they show up when you need it most.”

Dino’s former UD roommate, Dan Schoen ’82, made a point to regularly reach out. On the last day of Dino’s chemo treatment, the Pinciotti family created a Zoom call for people to join, and both Dino’s and his wife’s housemates from their respective houses on Kiefaber Street logged on to offer support. 

Before her father’s diagnosis, had Tori moved to the New York City area. During his chemo treatments, she said she found comfort in the Dayton alumni community in the New Jersey and New York area.

“It’s just really unique to find a school … that cares so much, [and] it’s not celebrated enough.” 

She and her family hope to continue connecting with the alumni community local to them and find ways to support the next generation of Flyers.

Tori describes Dino as a very “spiffy” guy who dresses nicely every day, especially for his chemo treatments. So, when he came downstairs on the final day of chemotherapy, the family was surprised to see him wearing the Dayton Hawaiian shirt gifted for the original trip. 

Though Dino is not in remission yet, the Pinciotti family has immense motivation to keep moving forward. To the Flyer family that has helped keep Dino going, they say, mahalo nui loa (thank you very much).