Vincent is a 56 year old college professor, a husband, and a father of three grown sons in their twenties. He and his wife live in Norman, Oklahoma, where they both teach voice performance and theatre at the University of Oklahoma—helping young performers find confidence, discipline, and joy in their craft.
In 2016, Vincent was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. After years of treatment, he reached remission and returned fully to the life and work he loves. Then, in 2025, the cancer unexpectedly returned.
This relapse led to the discovery of tumors in his brain. In September, Vincent underwent extensive brain surgery to remove a large tumor, followed by Gamma Knife surgery to treat a smaller one. Once his brain was stabilized, doctors turned their attention to the disease elsewhere in his body.
Vincent is now part of a highly specialized clinical trial at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. The trial uses tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy—a one time, personalized immunotherapy that takes Vincent’s own immune cells from his tumor and trains them to fight the cancer.
Since January, Vincent and his wife have been living in Tampa so he can receive treatment. Both are currently on medical leave from their teaching roles. While the trial itself covers the experimental therapy, many costs do not—extended lodging, travel, transportation, and additional medical expenses have quickly added up as this fight continues.
Through everything, Vincent remains unmistakably himself: thoughtful, devoted to his family, and quietly humorous. When asked what advice he would give aspiring singers hoping to learn from a professional like him, Vincent said, “You don’t need training—raw talent is better!”
Vincent has spent his life helping others find their voice. Right now, he’s facing one of the hardest challenges of his own. Sharing his story helps ensure that he and his wife can focus on healing, hope, and the long road forward—together.