A devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother, Dot was born and raised in Newark, NJ, the eldest of Dorothy (née Lichtel) and Edward Power's eight children.

Dot graduated from St. Vincent Academy, where she served as Student Council President and was a well-rounded athlete, participating in swimming, tennis and basketball. As a child and teenager, she was a competitive AAU swimmer at Hays Pool East and with the Newark Athletic Club.

After high school, she worked at Hahne's department store and as a medical secretary at St. Michael's Hospital in Newark.

Dot and her husband, Anthony ('Tony') Vilardo, raised their five children in South Orange, where she lived until 1992. The family were parishioners at Our Lady of Sorrows Church.

She was an active mother and continued her athletic pursuits as a member of the Our Lady of Sorrows bowling league, S.O. community women's softball team, and as a regular tennis and platform tennis player at the S.O. community courts. She and partner, Ann Doyle, were the S.O. Recreation Dept's Platform Tennis Champions in 1976.

Dot was a fixture in South Orange and NJ swimming, dedicating much of her personal and professional time to competitive and recreational swimming programs.

In the 1970s and into the early 1980s, Dot (aka Coach Vilardo) was a swim coach and instructor to many youth--including her own children. She was the pool manager and swim coach at the S.O. Community Pool, as well as the Orange YWCA.

Her decades of coaching culminated in her being chosen as the first women's swimming and diving coach at Seton Hall University (1979-1985) . There, she pioneered training techniques, secured scholarships to aid in recruiting for the new squad and led the team to winning seasons.

Dot was also a swimming official at the high school (NJSIAA) and college levels. She, officiated college meets and championships, well into her 70's—and would return to officiate in NJ, even after moving to Maryland.

As her children grew up and left the nest, Dot embarked on a second career in health care, as a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT). She worked at several medical facilities and hospitals in New Jersey (from 1984-2003) and in Maryland, until she retired in January 2021, at the age of 80.

Dot always preferred to be active rather than idle, and was full of positive, 'you can do it' energy. An avid walker, she regularly participated in the annual Komen National Race for the Cure in Washington DC, as well as the 3-day Komen Race for the Cure in New York and DC. She was truly a 'Power Walker.' As a senior, she found tai chi to be a relaxing exercise. 'Gigi' also enjoyed attending all her grandchildren's sporting events and activities.

Devoted to her Catholic faith and family, Dot believed in the power of prayer and regularly attended Mass throughout her life.

Dot is predeceased by her husband, Anthony Vilardo, her parents, Edward and Dorothy Power and her brother, William. She is survived by her two daughters, three sons and their spouses: Veronica (Chris), Mark (Chrysanthe), Dottie (Fred), Matthew (Evangeline) and Brendan (Lindy); eight grandchildren: Jack, Lulu, Annie, Charlie, Elizabeth, Michael, Joe and Maria; her siblings and their spouses: Mary (Richard), Edward (Diane), Antoinette (Peter), Bernadette, Damien (Marian) and Jane; and many family members and friends.

Dot's family deeply appreciates and gives heartfelt thanks to her doctors, nurses and caregivers for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to support metastatic breast cancer research (metavivor.org) or a charity of your choice.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Dec. 9th, 2023, at 11AM, at Church of the Little Flower, 5607 Massachusetts Ave, Bethesda, Md.

Funeral arrangement under the care of
Robert A Pumphrey Funeral Homes

Updated by : Veronica Vilardo