This one is certainly written with a heavy heart. Recently read on social media that Nancy Motta Ghilotti tragically passed away on July 14th.
For those out of the know, Nancy was the mother of the late Dino Ghilotti—the University of Miami graduate who perished in a car accident in Coral Gables days after earning his degree from “The U” in May 2013.
Dino was set to move back home to Marin County where he was to join his brother Willie and father Dick in running the family business; Ghilotti Contruction.
Having grown up in Florida and moving west to California after college, Dino’s story resonated with me—a west coast kid finding his way to the southeast, with Miami becoming a second home to him and his family.
The fact that he was taken so tragically; his family finally set to have him back home and his adult life taking off—just like that, he was gone.
I wrote about here years back; three time zones away at a concert when the accident took place—listening to one of my favorite singer-songwriters debut a song called “Crosses”:
“Hold on to memories, look for a sign that. Talk to gravestones that never seem to talk back. Never knowing what could have been. Left with the hope of seeing him again. Left with the hope of seeing her again.”
Over the last two years, I got to know Nancy virtually. We traded emails and notes via social media as she appreciated what allCanes was doing to help keep Dino’s memory alive.
We worked to raise awareness for his scholarship fund and I offered this blog as a platform for anything the Ghilotti family wanted to share.
That summer she sent me a care package while I was on a family vacation in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; a No. 8 shirt for Dino. A handful of hats with his “d/g” logo and favorite Bay Area sports teams, next to the “U” logo. A copy of his “Skating On Campus” photobook, which still sits on a shelf in my office. Countless stickers that I’ve slapped up in Southern California and rural Idaho. M&M’s with Dino’s likeness.
We talked family, lake living, a passion for the Hurricanes, spiritual growth, the healing process and our respective journeys. I saw parallels between our two families, right down to her and my mom sharing the same nickname; Gigi.
I followed the family’s journey via social media; Nancy’s trips back to Miami and efforts to keep Dino in the forefront of everyone’s minds. Her daughter Michelle’s blogs and posts about healing, with in-depth, raw looks into how a family was working to put itself back together.
I introduced Nancy to our general manager Harry Rothwell, who got to know her by way of countless visits to allCanes whenever she was in town. We had LIVDinoStrong bracelets and keychains in store, as a simple daily reminder regarding the Ghilotti family.
My last back and forth with Nancy was last June. I’d had some hardships within my family that I shared and just reread her final thoughts and sentiments to me:
“LIFE is not an easy journey for any of us, we just have to keep living the best we can, keep aspiring to become better human beings so that when we reach our final destination we are all very well prepared. I sure know my boy was. Was in MIA and of course was at allCanes and saw Harry. Love to you and your family. Prayers of healing going your way. xo.”
Thank you, Nancy.
Weeks ago I received an invitation to the Ghilotti family’s upcoming event this fall honoring Dino, where I looked forward to meeting someone who had become a virtual friend over the past two years—and now that opportunity is no more.
It’s heartbreaking and unfathomable. I was tremendously looking forward to one day meeting this special lady.
Keep this Canes family in your thoughts and prayers. For those who would like to make a donation to the “Canes Care For Canes” foundation the Ghilotti family set up in Dino’s honor; it’d be a wonderful way to honor Nancy’s memory today.
Godspeed, Ghilotti family. Godspeed. May our paths cross soon…
