Column #698 Thank you for showing us how to live, Tina DiGregorio

Friday, October 3, 2025
Column 698
Thank you for showing us how to live, Tina DiGregorio

It was with profound sadness that the darts community learned of the passing of Tina DiGregorio on August 8, 2025, in Gilbert, Arizona.

To those outside her circle, it may come as a surprise how deeply Tina influenced both the competitive and social layers of American darts for decades. To those of us within it, her loss is not just a family’s grief – it’s a gap in the heartbeat of our game.

A Life Beyond the Oche

Tina’s passion for darts was one strand in a life rich with devotion to family, friendship, and service. She is survived by her son Allan (and his wife Danielle), her longtime partner David Troy, her sisters Victoria and Christine, a wide web of nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends, and her dogs Max and Lizzie.

Her life was many things: a devoted mother and partner, a respected colleague at Arizona State University, animal lover, enthusiastic camper, and above all, a competitor whose presence lifted every tournament.

For years she took in injured or orphaned birds – rehabilitating and releasing them when possible, or providing sanctuary when not. That same caring spirit infused her darts life: she organized hospitality, cheered from behind the line, and mentored newer players.

On the Boards

Over decades, Tina collected not just results, but respect. She frequently ranked among the top ADO players, was a continual threat in regional events, and won notable tournaments such as the 1999 Witch City Open. She also left her mark in soft-tip, including her championship team “Harry Potter’s Girls” at BullShooter XIX.

In November 1999, Tina graced the cover of Bulls Eye News. That issue remains a keepsake – testament for many that both her game and her character were newsworthy.

Although not always in the spotlight, she was always present: behind the line, offering encouragement, sharing a laugh, strategizing with teammates.

A Memory at the Kettle

Over the years I spent a lot of time with Tina – from New York to Virginia Beach to Las Vegas. But the moment that lingers most is one night at the Kettle of Fish in Greenwich Village.

The Kettle is a cozy, low-ceilinged neighborhood pub where smoke, music, and conversation mix in perfect balance. That night, the place was alive with characters: Chris Erner of New Jersey’s Dart Hackers, the all-female powerhouse squad Kettle of BITCH, and of course, Tina.

When Tina and I stepped to the line, she corked with a red bull, called 501, and immediately hammered in 149. I answered with five. She followed with 140; I scraped together 42.

Eleven darts later she finished on 52 for a 17-darter, leaving me stranded on 366 with a nine-point average. She shook my hand, smiled sweetly, and asked if I wanted lessons. (Erner didn’t let me off easy either: “Yo, Dahdoid! Whaddya, stoopid? Youse jus’ got whup’ by a goil.”)

That was Tina: fierce, graceful, and unflinchingly competitive.

Her Circle, Her Legacy

In the days since her passing, tributes have poured in – from high school swim teammates to ASU colleagues, from dart players across the country to those who knew her simply as the kind woman who rescued birds.

Tina’s legacy isn’t measured only in wins or averages:

It lives in the new players she encouraged, who now throw with fuller hearts…

It lives in the kindness she extended to people and creatures alike…

It remains alive in the stories still being told – about matches, closing shots, and shared laughs – through which her spirit endures.

Tina taught us that darts is not only a competition, but a fellowship.

Farewell

Tina’s passing reminds us that even in the games we love, it’s the people who matter most. The throws fade, but the friendships remain. The game will carry on, and every dart thrown will echo, in some small way, the energy she brought to it.

So here’s to Tina DiGregorio: mother, mentor, swimmer, nature lover, animal rescuer, ASU colleague, and dart player extraordinaire. May her darts continue to fly true, may her family and friends find comfort in shared memories, and may we all carry a bit of her spirit to the line.

Rest in peace, Tina. Thank you for showing us how to live.

Stay thirsty, my friends,
Dartoid