Danny Pino

Type of Donation:          organ donor

Age and Location:          Age 19 – Tallahassee, Florida

Donation Date:                9/28/2014

Sponsor:                              Honored by Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency

DANNY’S STORY

Danny Pino was 19 years old when he was struck by a car while crossing a street in Tallahassee, Florida. He passed away seven days later on September 28, 2014. Danny’s spirit and the mission he was born to serve lives on through all of us at PinoStrong, a foundation created with funds raised to bring him home.

Danny, whom his friends lovingly called “Pino,” was known for his loyalty, determination and compassion. He was funny, too, and the life of the party. In his short time on Earth, he touched many lives and helped many people in different ways. Danny loved and was loved. He had many interests and passions, but his greatest was baseball. Baseball fueled his competitive nature, moving him from short stop at age five to lefty pitcher in high school and college. His senior year of high school, he was recruited to play baseball by the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Long Island, New York.

At the young age of six, he was touched deeply by the events of September 11, a day that changed his life. It inspired him to attend the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and later join the Army ROTC at Florida International University. Thirteen years later on September 11, 2014, he received his Army Combat Uniform, which he wore proudly. His ultimate dream, more than playing baseball, was to serve his country.

Although he was not able to fulfill his dream of serving his country in the way he had imagined, his Act of Valor for his country was the donation of his organs. He saved two boys, ages 7 and 12, and a 63 year old man. That is his ultimate gift and his Legacy. 

Danny’s mother, Peggy Jimenez Pino said, “After almost 2 years, I drummed up the courage to write the recipients.  What made it so hard was that I was writing to the parents, not really the boys. The two boys actually met in the hospital and call themselves the “kidney brothers”. After two letters, a year and half of being friends on Facebook, texting and keeping tabs on each other, we finally met the recipients over the summer.  The boys are amazing.   It is hard to really comprehend that these boys have a piece of my boy.   That he has made their lives better.“