Please enter a minimum of 2 characters to search.
Please enter a minimum of 2 characters to search.
Memorial Keepers(0)
They manage this memorial. Contact or join
Add a Keeper
Nicolas "Nick" Pino Jr.
November 3rd, 1944 - November 3rd, 2019
November 3rd, 1944 - November 3rd, 2019
NICOLAS “NICK” PINO, JR., 75, of Santa Fe died November 3, 2019. He was born in Santa Fe to the late Jesusita Romero Pino and Nicolas “Nick” Pino, Sr. He was well-known and esteemed.
During the course of his life at 7’1”, he became a basketball legend at St. Michael’s High School in 1963. He then played basketball with the Kansas State University Wildcats through 1968. Nick played professional basketball for the Santos de San Luis in San Luis Potosi Mexico. He was also the proprietor of his insurance business.
Nick is survived by his siblings, Carlos Pino (Judy), Marcella DiPalma (Brian), Alice Pino, Rita Vigil (Ruben), Socorro Ortiz, Felix Pino, and Michael Pino, and many other relatives and friends. Nick was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Fidelita Pino; nephew, Eugene Ortiz; and aunt, Juanita Pino Rael.
A Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. on Monday, November 11, at St. Anne Parish. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, November 12, at the same parish with burial to follow at the Rosario Cemetery.
Honorary Pallbearers: St. Michael’s High School Class of 1963 and Kansas State University Class of 1968.
Pallbearers will be his nieces and nephews: Joel Ortiz, Patricia Candelaria, Ruben Vigil, Raymond Pino, Richard Pino, Rebecca Pino, Sean DiPalma, Jessica DiPalma, Nicolas Pino, Felicity Pino, Nicole Pino.
Memorial contributions may be made to: _________________________________________________________
St. Michael’s High School Alumni Association
(Nick Pino Scholarship Fund)
100 Siringo Road
Santa Fe, NM 87505
__________________________________________________________
Santa Fe Animal & Humane Society
100 Caja del Rio Road
Santa Fe, NM 87507
https://sfhumanesociety.networkforgood.com/projects/30421-donate-now
____________________________________________________________
American Diabetic Association
525 San Pedro Drive, NE
Albuquerque, NM 87108
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
RECENT NEWSPAPER ARTICLES:
https://www.abqjournal.com/1387593/santa-fes-gentle-giant-dies-at-75.html
https://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/nick-the-stick-pino-of-st-michaels-dies-at-75#.XcSdZdVlCUk
Create an event page to coordinate a gathering in honor of Nicolas "Nick"
Tributes
Janet Duarte
So sorry to hear of Nick's passing. I knew him when he played for KState. Had tried to get in touch with him years back. Such a nice guy and a great basketball player, I had fond memories of how sweet he was. My thoughts and prayers to his family. Janet Duarte, Peralta, NM ( previously from east of Manhattan...St. George, Kansas).
Mike Lucero
My sincerest condolences to the family of Nick and am extremely sorry and sad for your loss. Of course I knew Nick since his BB playing days at St. Mike's and at KSU. I regret not playing with Nick or against Nick after our college playing days were over. However, over the years I ran into him from time to time and he was always quite glad to see me. There was a profound mutual respect for one another. His physique never ceased to amaze me....and I thought I had big hands. Now there was one human being that one could look up to in more ways than one. Had not seen Nick for a number of years but we did have lunch or a drink or two from time to time in SF or ABQ. I still have his business card. He was one heck of a BB player and had to endure many hours of very difficult and trying practices for his coaches at St. Mike's and KSU. It wasn't always easy but Nick endured due to his love of the game. He often told me he wished he could have played with me at some level, be it high school, college, or AAU. The same holds true for me. May God Bless Nick and may he REST IN PEACE.
Joyce Martinez
Marcella. My deepest sympathy to you and your family. I will always remember Nick as the gentle giant. He was a very caring and wonderful man. My condolences.
Copyright © 2026 Keeper Memorials, All rights reserved.