Memorial Service Planned for Dino Ghilotti

Services in Marin this week will honor Dino Ghilotti, 22, who was killed in a May 12 car crash near the University of Miami, roughly a day after he had graduated from the college.

Ghilotti grew up in San Rafael and is the youngest son of Richard Ghilotti, the president and CEO of Ghilotti Construction, which has offices in San Rafael and Santa Rosa.

A memorial service for Ghilotti will be held at St. Raphael's Church in San Rafael on Friday at 1 p.m. with a reception to follow at Marin Catholic at 2:30 p.m. Family members also planned a rosary for Thursday at 7 p.m. at St. Raphael's Church in San Rafael.

Ghilotti, a business management major with a minor in art, was preparing to join the family’s construction business. He was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and enjoyed basketball, ceramics and glass blowing.

He was born at Marin General Hospital and grew up in San Rafael. He attended San Domenico for grammar school and graduated from Marin Catholic High School. He was named after his late grandfather, Dino Joseph Ghilotti.

Several community members and family members spoke to Ghilotti’s character in his obituary.

"He was one of those guys who lights up the room when he walks in. He was a charismatic, confident, outgoing young man and one of the leaders of our team. There was never a day off for him," said a former basketball coach.

He is survived by his parents Nancy and Richard Ghilotti, siblings Willie and Michelle, brother and sister-in-law Josh Mandel and Rochelle Ghilotti, nephews Nolan Mandel, Jayden Ghilotti, niece Vivian Ghilotti, his aunts Linda Ghilotti and Diane Ongaro, cousins Brian and Amy Ongaro and their children Claire and Andrew, cousin Shannon Ongaro, and longtime friend and nanny, Ana Taracena, among other friends and family.

Click here to see the full obituary for Ghilotti.

Marinites have remember Ghilotti as charismatic, warm and giving, according to the Marin Independent Journal.

Two other passengers who were in the car with Ghilotti were injured, but few details have been released about the accident, according to the Miami New Times.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the University of Miami - Dino Richard Ghilotti Motta "Canes Care for Canes" Scholarship Fund. Mail contributions to University of Miami: P.O. Box 025388, Miami Fl 33102-98111. All donations are tax deductible.

Did you know Dino Ghilotti? Share your memories in the comments.