Rino Berbano ’57 graduated from University of the Pacific, worked there for 40 years and has proudly watched many family members become Tigers. Later this month, he’ll experience the next big thrill in his long relationship with his alma mater.

“It’s the biggest honor I’ve ever received in my life from Pacific,” he said. “It makes me feel like I really belong—and I bleed orange, after all.”

On Jan. 31, Berbano and his family will accept the Outstanding Family Award at the 66th Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony. Created in 1964, the award honors families with multiple alumni members who have made significant contributions to the university. The Berbano family includes nearly 20 Pacific alumni—and counting.

“I grew up with aunts and cousins living with us while they attended Pacific,” recalls Marilyn (Berbano) Nilsen ’85, Rino’s daughter. “This is where my husband and I met and married and where our son met his spouse. We're excited to see the next generation enjoy similar experiences. It's nice to keep the tradition going.”

That tradition began with Berbano and his siblings, who grew up in the Philippines. Their father, a Methodist minister, encouraged them to pursue college in America, and young Rino chose Pacific, as did three of his siblings—Noel Berbano ’54, Graesanto Berbano ’58 and Holofa (Berbano) Crowder ’60.

Rino Berbano immigrated to Stockton in 1953 and lived with relatives of then-president Dr. Robert E. Burns. His host family loved him as their own and gave him a sense of belonging in a new country. Burns personally encouraged him to further his education and then to apply for a job at Pacific.

Berbano earned a business degree and began his career at the university, starting in the loan department, where he supported students and co-workers university wide. “I felt like part of a large family, and I really enjoyed it,” he recalls.

He later moved on to the purchasing department, and retired as director of purchasing after four decades of service.

At Pacific’s library he met his wife, Mary; the couple will celebrate 67 years of marriage on Jan. 11. Rino and Mary are avid Tiger fans, and for decades were Pacific Athletics season ticketholders, frequently seen arriving at games in the “tiger car,” the university’s orange Cadillac convertible parade car, of which they were longtime stewards. 

In 2025, to honor Rino’s host family and his Pacific experience, he and Mary established the Berbano Family Endowed Scholarship in the Eberhardt School of Business. Rino hopes it will support foster youth, first-generation students and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Like her dad, Marilyn Nilsen also has found a professional home at Pacific. Formerly an electrical engineer, she has spent the last 13 years working in administrative roles for the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, where she enjoys volunteering at vaccination clinics and other activities.

Her son, Johnathan Nilsen ’17 and his spouse Andrew Occiano ’16 are graduates of the pharmacy school. Their experience inspired the Nilsens—including Johnathan—to support Pacific students philanthropically.

“Since he graduated, we've collectively contributed to an annual scholarship for pharmacy students,” she explained. Those annual gifts ultimately inspired Marilyn and husband Mark Nilsen ’84 to expand their commitment: in 2025 they established the Nilsen Family Endowed Scholarship, supporting students in the pharmacy school and the School of Engineering and Computer Science in perpetuity.

“Giving back to the university and benefiting students felt like a great way to honor the school that's given us so many great experiences, and to take advantage of the generous Powell Match opportunity,” Marilyn said.

Generations of Berbano relatives are Pacific Loyal donors, alumni volunteers and athletics season ticketholders.

The family also includes Rino and Mary’s son Victor Berbano ’91 and nephews Evan Berbano ’09, Edward Berbano ’13 and Mark Berbano ’15, along with Mary’s sister Catherine Acoba Santini ’70, sister-in-law Valerie Acoba ’70, niece Lily Vallesteros Bugarin ’72, and cousins Myrna Acoba-Rapisura ’89 (another Pacific employee) and Robert Rapisura ’87.

The family will be recognized Saturday, Jan. 31 at 5:30 pm in the DeRosa University Center Ballroom on the Stockton Campus.

“We're very proud and honored to receive the Outstanding Family Award, and very excited to add future Pacificans to the family,” Marilyn Nilsen said.

Register now for the 66th Distinguished Alumni Awards.