Frank S. Vilardi Jr.

Frank S. Vilardi, Jr, 58 of Westchester Hills, died peacefully Friday (January 5, 2002) at his home surrounded by his loving family. Born in Teaneck, NJ, on Nov. 25, 1943, he was a son of the late Frank and Ester (Puppolo) Vilardi. He graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, IN, in 1965 with a degree in Psychology. Mr. Vilardi worked for many years in the computer programming field. He returned to school and received a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Connecticut. Active in HIV work at the state and national level, he was the co-founder and Executive Director of the Connecticut Positive Action Coalition (CPAC). He created an adherence program for CPAC which has been adopted in Brazil and Israel. Mr. Vilardi has facilitated AIDS support groups and mentored hundreds of people in the HIV community. He was also a co-founder of the Living Center, the first drop in center for people living with HIV in Connecticut and served on many boards, including AIDS Project - Hartford, Latinos Contra SIDA and the HIV Action Initiative. He received the ADS Leadership Award from the Commissioner of the State Department of Public Health. He sang for many years with the Lebanon Community Chorus. He is survived by his partner, Tyron Leggett of Colchester; two daughters, Lisa and husband, Erik Nelson of Earlysville, VA, Jodi and partner, Jolie Jonte of Plainfield, VT; a brother, Peter A. Vilardi of Emerson, NJ; a sister, Therese V. Rekow of River Vale, NJ; two grandchildren, Brian and Emma Nelson and numerous extended family and friends. A celebration of the life and work of Frank S. Vilardi will be held January 28, 6-9 p.m. at the Connecticut Historical Society, 1 Elizabeth St., Hartford. Calling hours will be held 6-8 p.m., Tuesday evening followed immediately by a memorial service, 8 p.m. at the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home, 167 Old Hartford Road, Colchester. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Frank Vilardi Leadership Training Institute, C/O CPAC, P.O. Box 340125, Hartford, CT 06134.