A Flyer legacy
UD shaped Dino Pinciotti ’83 into the man his family and friends adored — faithful, loyal, and endlessly kind. When illness struck, the UD community he so loved wrapped him in the same care and connection he’d spent a lifetime giving others.
When Dino Pinciotti ’83 chose to attend the University of Dayton, he wasn’t just picking a school — he was joining a community that would shape every part of his life.
A proud Flyer, devoted husband and father, and a friend to everyone he met, Pinciotti embodied what it meant to learn, lead and serve.
“He made friends wherever he went,” said his daughter, Tori Pinciotti ’12.
Pinciotti died in July 2025 after his battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but his legacy continues through family, friends and the Flyer community he helped shape.
He met his wife, Lisanne Mosher Pinciotti ’82, during their first semester at UD. Fate brought them together during UD’s Oktoberfest weekend, when campus transformed into a grand fall festival of food, music and friends — the perfect setting for a meet-cute.
“I can’t remember much of college without Dino,” said Lisanne. “We really learned how to be independent and balance life. It was a coming-of-age experience, and we got to continue our faith life.”
She noted her family’s values were created through her college journey, for it was a coming-of-age experience. They learned to be young adults and navigate changes, using spiritual faith to guide them.
The couple dated throughout college and later married.
Their daughter, Tori, initially did not want to attend UD because she wanted to find her own path to college. However, after visiting and witnessing the beauty of the campus, enrolled. Tori would go on to participate in Greek life and cheerleading, balancing both college and life. Through it all, her father was her biggest supporter, visiting her on campus whenever he could.
"He was the best girl dad,” Tori said.
Pinciotti was especially passionate about UD basketball. He and Lisanne would attend games, and later, game days were a big family affair.
In 2024, for his birthday, the family planned a dream trip to Hawaii to watch Dayton and Michigan State play in the Maui Invitational. They even bought Dino a festive Hawaiian shirt to wear.
But, just two weeks before the trip, Dino was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
During treatment, UD basketball became a big comfort to Dino. He continued to be the Flyers’ biggest fan as he cheered them on from his hospital bed. Friends and members of the Dayton community rallied around him, sending heartfelt letters and care packages filled with Dayton gear.
“Life felt normal when the game was on,” Tori said. “It was something we could all do together.”
People showed up with masks, talked with him on calls and gave support in whatever way they could. And after his final round of chemotherapy, Dino wore the Hawaiian jersey meant for the trip which had become a symbol of strength, hope and the community he loved.
Dino passed away surrounded by family and the support of all of those who knew and loved him.
“Dayton will always hold a special place in my heart,” Lisanne said. “It was where I met Dino, and where we learned how to live a faith-based life and raise a family.”
Above all, Lisanne and Tori hope that Dino’s legacy will live on. His love for the University of Dayton was infectious, and to them, he was the perfect Flyer.
