One of the best soccer players in the history of CHS, Dinunzio was a four-year member of the varsity team and a three-year captain. He earned All-Catholic honors in 1995, 1996 and 1997. The 1997 Monsignor Martin Athletic Association Player of the Year and All-Western New York selection set school records for career goals and assists.
Dinunzio's reflection:
Thank you to Canisius High School, Fr. C, the Board of Trustees and the Alumni Association for this wonderful honor. I am blessed and privileged to call myself an alumnus of such a fine institution. My four years as a Crusader made a major impact on my development as a young man both academically and athletically. The consistent and daily Pursuit of Excellence has driven me in the classroom, the soccer field and professional world. By becoming a Crusader and having the opportunity to compete at the varsity level in both soccer and football, along with playing freshmen and JV basketball, I was immersed into an environment that gave me no choice but to be shaped into a man for others. Thank you.
The opportunity to attend Canisius and receive a Jesuit education would not have been possible without the generosity of so many others; my four-year experience and this honor is greatly credited to the financial scholarship I received through the Ignatian Scholars. The community of giving that supports Canisius is pivotal to every student’s journey.
Thank you EJ Flammer ’90 for the nomination.
Thank you to my teammates and coaches; especially Keith Kostrzewski and Dathan Hartl for showing me the ropes when I was a freshman. Thank you to my classmates Nathan DeLuke, Sean Pidgeon, Brendan Rich, Matt Haslinger and Tim Loehfelm for allowing me to be me. From our overnight trip in Erie and dousing Coach Dobbins in the middle of the night with and ice bucket to our many spaghetti dinners before games against that other school, we built a foundation of memories and moments that stick with me and I have been blessed to share with my two sons. Three Monsignor Martin Finals in four-years is pretty good; we just could never get past that final hurdle. It was a pleasure competing alongside each of you, riding in our cars to training at Rumsey Road or Lasalle Park or finding ways to share our lockers so one could be for our bags and the other for our books.
To my wife Jackie, thank you for your quiet confidence, support, and understanding of my deeply-rooted love for the Blue and Gold.
Declan and Beckham, it has been amazing to watch you both these last two years begin your relationship with the school through Coach Roberts and the school’s Best. Summer. Ever. Soccer Camp – it really brings me joy to see how invested and proud of Canisius each of you are.
Lastly, to my parents, thank you. None of this is possible without you. The foresight to explore the opportunity of attending Canisius; the support to push me to be my best; and the love that bred confidence within me - thank you. What you sacrificed, personally and financially, for me to walk through the Blue Doors as a student is beyond measure and appreciated more than you know. I am forever indebted to you. Thank you for opening our house to welcome my teammates and coaches and hosting all of those spaghetti dinners – you elevated everyone’s experience on the team! Truly thank you. I am honored and proud to be a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame, but I am more proud to be your son.
Thank you Canisius.
Thank you Father C.
Thank you fellow Alums and Classmates.
Thank you Jackie, Dex and Becks. I love you guys. Thank you Mom and Dad.
Pursue Excellence, Nothing Else is Worth Your Time. With a grateful and humble heart, thank you.
