Vito A. Cardo, Jr.

Dr. Vito A. Cardo Jr., 80, of Garden City and Southold NY, passed away on November 16, 2020.

Dr. Cardo, also lovingly known as “Popa” to his grandchildren and “Doc” and “Dr. C” to so many loved by him, was born on October 15, 1940, to Vito and Clotilda Cardo in Bronx, NY. Dr. Cardo is predeceased by his parents and his brother and best friend, Richard.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Alice of 53 years; his seven children, Alice (Paul), Vito (Regina), Michael (Anabela), Elena (Patrick), Clare (Kevin), Marianne (Jason), and James (Erin); and his eighteen adoring grandchildren: Shannon, Emily, Aidan, Isabel, Lia, Kelly, Michael, Amália, Nazaré, Manuel, Jack, Fiona, Brian, Molly, Sarah, Leo, Catherine, and James. 

After graduating from All Hollows High School in the Bronx, Dr. Cardo attended Manhattan College and Georgetown University School of Dentistry. He continued on to embark on a 50-year career as an Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon, teaching oral surgery and general dentistry residents through three hospital systems; Catholic Medical Center, St. Vincent’s Hospital and Brookdale University Hospital. At the time of his passing, Dr. Cardo was serving as the Chairman for the Department of Dentistry and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery and the Director of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program. Over the course of his expansive career, Dr. Cardo taught hundreds of residents, so many of whom respected and admired him.

On September 16, 1967, Dr. Cardo married the love of his life, Alice Welch. They lived together, inseparable for 53 years, sharing a love that is seldom seen. They had seven children and at the time of his passing, Dr. Cardo had 18 grandchildren that he loved endlessly. Dr. Cardo was a devoted husband, a loving father, and Popa.  There is nothing he loved more than his family and he showed this every day through his gentle and quiet manner.

Dr. Cardo was perhaps the world’s biggest New York Yankees fan, passing down that loyalty and devotion to his children and grandchildren.

He was a true patriot. Dr. Cardo was so humbled by the dedication of the many servicemen and servicewomen in our Armed Forces who risk their lives every day for our freedom.

A devout Roman Catholic and follower of St. Francis of Assisi, Dr. Cardo was a true example of what it means to serve your community.  Dr. Cardo was a CYO basketball coach for over 30 years, coached numerous soccer and baseball teams and served as Commodore of the Southold Yacht Club.

This gentle, loving, caring and wonderful man has left a permanent mark etched on our hearts and will be supremely missed by so many.

The family would like to give a sincere and heartfelt expression of gratitude to the brave physicians, nurses and staff at Winthrop University Hospital who worked incessantly to heal and ultimately comfort our beloved husband, father and Popa.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial gifts be made to the Franciscan Bread for the Poor. Please see donation link below.