The Spire

Michael Collins ‘27

Staff Writer

There will be a sizable hole on our campus this year for my six roommates and I. We will be missing the rambunctious energy and confidence of our roommate and friend, Dominick Tocci ’27. Look no further than the impact Dom had on the people around him: he even inspired a kid who typically tries to avoid the spotlight to work on an article for the school newspaper.

When I first met Dom, his confidence led me to believe that he played an important role on his high school baseball team. Although, as his friends will tell you, he was mostly there to take pitches or stand in the way of them. Even on our softball team, he was in no way the most talented player. But while he may not have been the best player on the field, his resounding energy was infectious. You wanted to play alongside him, and his confidence made you believe in yourself.

It was the same confidence that led him to believe he was the best cornerback on the field, but he just did not want to run the whole game. He was the reason our softball games in April meant a little bit more. Dom was the person on that team who connected everyone, and he could not have been more excited for the season to begin.

My brother-in-law was able to make “DT” patches for me and a few of Dom’s close friends to wear during our games. The patch was a small reminder not only of what we were playing for, but also of the kind of energy we needed to bring to the field. I remember that day because it was one of the first times my friends and I were able to take a break reminiscing about something Dom loved.

I can also say I was lucky enough to hit a home run in my first at-bat. It may have been the most emotion I have ever felt during a competition. At that moment, the game felt like more than a game.

Recently, Dom’s mother, Lisa, started a charity called Live Like Dom. The charity takes aim at the participation barriers that have become increasingly common in youth sports. Most recently, it covered all T-ball registration fees for Woodstock Little League in 2027. The charity channels the exact energy Dom brought to his teams. It aims to help kids participate, bring people together, and bring out the best in those around them.

Dom certainly was not always the most talented player on the field, but his leadership and energy were the reason his teams always showed up believing they could beat anybody. That same energy is what inspired my roommate, Jack Faggiano ’27, to run a half marathon this past summer in Dom’s honor, wearing a Celtics jersey with Dom’s famous number, 91.

It is through little moments like these that we remember Dom. But Live Like Dom gives that memory a real and lasting impact. It encourages kids to participate, lead loudly, and leave no one behind. It encourages people to be themselves and to be the person who lightens the mood in the dugout or brings energy to the field.

Every contribution, no matter how small, helps include more kids in youth sports and gives them the opportunity to build the same connections that made sports so meaningful to Dom. It is another way to carry forward the remarkable impact he had on everyone around him.

Dom may not have always been the best player on the field, but he made everyone around him feel like they were part of something bigger. That is what it means to Live Like Dom.

Giuseppe Mendoza ‘27, another one of Dom’s close friends at Holy Cross, remembered his time playing baseball with his friend fondly. 

“We were just having fun. And we were at peace,” Mendoza said. “Just a couple of friends, a bat, some balls, and a perfect evening.”

The Live Like Dom foundation went live this week and can be accessed via https://livelikedom.org/. 

“Your support helps young people play, lead, belong, and believe in themselves,” the homepage reads. “Together, we can remove barriers and create opportunities that last a lifetime.”

Consider supporting the cause to honor beloved student and friend, Dominick Tocci, who touched so many lives here at Holy Cross and beyond. All contributions and forms of support make a difference.